Italian octogenarians worried by yesterday’s driving ban story may soon be eating more tomatoes if claims for the new, square “super tomato” turn out to be well-founded.
The tomato has been grown by farmers’ cooperatives in Emilia Romagna and Lombardy and has not been genetically modified. According to the farmers’ union Coldiretti, it contains high concentrations of lypocene, a powerful antioxidant which may help combat the ageing process. It may also help prevent cardiovascular disease and strokes and have anti-cancer properties.
Unveiled at a weekend presentation in Rome, the tomato was served up in pasta sauces to Agriculture Minister Giancarlo Galan, Economy Minister Giulio Tremonti, Labour Minister Maurizio Sacconi and other dignitaries.
This is a different tomato from the Maxantia, grown in Naples, which we reported on in March. The Maxantia is also hailed as a “super tomato” with anti-cancer properties.
