The main reason for this difference comes from the “harsh” growing conditions imposed on organic tomatoes. While conventional tomatoes are coaxed with plenty of fertilizer, organic tomatoes have to find their own resources to defend themselves against outside conditions. And this form of stress transforms as they grow into nutrients that we then benefit from.
To reach these conclusions, the scientists compared tomatoes grown on organic and conventional farms in Brazil. The farms were placed 1.5 kilometers apart and shared in similar natural environments.
Harvest from 30 plants in each farming system was sampled and analyzed. Tomatoes grown on organic farms were 40% richer in vitamins and nutrients than those produced conventionally. Their concentrations of vitamin C were up 57% and that of phenols twice as high.
However, phenols, like flavonoids, are largely responsible for the nutritional qualities of fruits and vegetables. They help the body to fight external attacks and to fight against chronic and heart diseases. Lycopene, a tomato flavonoid, would reduce the risk of Prostate cancer and reduce tumor growth.
Dr. Maria Raquel Miranda and her team from the Federal University of Ceara, conclude: “Our observations suggest that organically grown tomatoes offer better concentrations of soluble solids nutrients such as sugars and other compounds contributing to fruit its nutritional quality such as vitamin C and phenolic compounds.”
” Another recent US study showed that organic strawberries have significantly higher levels of antioxidants and proved that soil from organic farms is much healthier than traditional soil. » « Consumers really have many reasons to choose organic products “.