At Billabong Produce we believe the only way to truly capture the flavour, texture and vibrancy of the tomato is to take it fresh from the field, process and package it the very same day! So we can lock in all those nutritional benefits and that rich flavour.

Not only are tomatoes packed full vitamins and minerals, they also contain an important antioxidant; lycopene, that has been linked to improving the health of various organs, preventing cancer and other serious diseases.

Lycopene is a carotenoid– a family of bright red pigments which is found in tomatoes and other yellow, red, orange fruits and vegetables. It is a powerful antioxidant which eliminates dangerous free radicals that can damage DNA and other fragile cell structures in the body.

Lycopene is found in tomatoes and has been linked to keeping the heart, liver, pancreas, prostate, breast, colon, and lungs healthy.

One medium tomato equals

• 5gm CARBOHYDRATES            40% VITAMIN C
  1.5gm DIETRY FIBRE                   20% VITAMIN A
  22 CALORIES                                    2%  IRON
  1.8gm PROTEIN                              1% CALCIUM

Antioxidants are compounds in food which scavenge and neutralise free radicals which may damage the body’s cells, they are beneficial in improving the health of the prostate, colon, pancreas and heart!

Tomatoes are a natural cancer fighter; research from scientist across the globe have shown that because Lycopene is such a powerful antioxidant, it may be linked in preventing the risk of several cancers. Recent studies have also identified carotenoids as paramount supporters for the cardiovascular system and male reproductive health.

Unlike other fruits and vegetables, where the nutritional content is diminished when cooking, processing tomatoes actually increases the concentration of lycopene that can be absorbed by your body. This is why canned and bottled tomatoes are such a fantastic product to have on your shelves, available year round and they taste great!

According to the USDA National Nutrient data base:

• 1 cherry tomato contains: 473µg of lycopene
• 1 slice of raw tomato contains: 515µg of lycopene
• 1 tbs canned tomato paste contains: 3,140µg of lycopene
• ½ cup canned tomato puree contains: 27,192µg of lycopene

Recommended Daily Allowances are based on an average 8700 Kilojoule diet for healthy adults. Your daily Values may be different based on your individual needs.