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1. The latin name for quince is Solanum lycopersicum, they are closely related to tobacco, potatoes, aubergine and chilli peppers.

2. The tomato origionates in South America annd was spread round the world by the Spanish.

3. Botanically the tomato is a fruit, although it is often considered a vegetable.

4. Many varieties have been developed with yellow, orange, pink, purple, green, black, or white fruit available.

5. Commercially tomatoes are often picked unripe, when still green,  and ripened in storage with ethylene, a hydrocarbon gas produced by many ripening fruits. The same effect is often reproduced at home by using a banana, which releases the gas as it ripens.

6. Green tomatoes are often used to make Green Tomato Chutney.

7. The heaviest tomato ever was  3.51 kg (7 lb 12 oz),  grown in Oklahoma in 1986.

8. The town of Buñol, Spain, has an annual mass tomato fight, known as La Tomatina.

9. Gargling tomato juice 3 or 4 times a day can help provide relief from mouth ulcers.

10. In the 19th century it was common to throw rotten tomatoes at bad stage performers.