NEW Eden® Organic Whole Tomatoes & Organic Whole Tomatoes with Sweet Basil

11 November 2004

Clinton, Michigan - Eden canned tomatoes now include two new varieties: Organic Whole Tomatoes and Organic Whole Tomatoes with Basil.

Eden Whole Tomatoes are the flavorful Roma variety, organically grown on the third generation Kerr family farm in the Thames River Delta of southern Ontario, Canada. Bob Kerr's careful tending and mineral rich organic soil, enriched by the farm's consummate on site composting and crop rotation program, produces deep red, firm Roma tomatoes that taste even better after they're cooked.

The tomatoes are harvested at the peak of red ripeness and canned within hours. After harvesting, washing, and sorting the tomatoes are hot water scalded loosening their skin and lightly brushed causing the skin to separate. The peeled tomatoes are visually inspected and cooked in fresh organic tomato juice. Absolutely nothing is added.

Eden Organic Whole Tomatoes with Basil are cooked with a generous amount of organic dried sweet basil. We could find no other maker that uses this superb ingredient. Those we did find are made with a small amount of fresh basil and have a diluted, barely to nonexistent basil flavor. We discovered that organic dried sweet basil was essential in getting the flavor that our customers wanted and deserve.

Eden Whole Tomatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C and beta carotene vitamin A. They also provide potassium, dietary fiber, protein, iron, thiamin B1, Riboflavin B2, Niacin B3, and magnesium. Each is low carb, low calorie, fat free, extremely low sodium and delicious.

Eden Tomatoes provide potent antioxidants including lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that gives tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables their red color. Research has linked lycopene to reduced risk of prostate cancer and the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Researchers point out that you need to get your lycopene from whole tomatoes, preferably cooked. Lycopene supplements are ineffective compared with the whole food version were it works in synergy with all of the other nutrients and phytochemicals that whole tomatoes, and some other fruits and vegetables, provide.

Commercial tomatoes are synthetically fed, often travel hundreds of miles before processing, are force ripened with ethylene gas after premature picking, and are usually bathed in lye or other caustic solutions to loosen their skins for peeling. Most contain excess harsh refined salt, sugar, and preservatives. Even 'organic' brands usually contain citric acid and calcium chloride as processing aids.

In refreshing contrast Eden Whole Tomatoes have no salt added, no derived citric acid or calcium chloride, and their skins are removed with hot water and brushing instead of lye. You can taste and see the difference.

Eden Whole Tomatoes are ideal for making chunky homemade spaghetti sauce, soups, stews, and casseroles, or simply heat and serve as a side dish. Each is certified organic and kosher parve, in 28oz (796ml), 12 to a case, $2.35 SRP.