- Categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Tags:
- AppreciationFruitHealthy Food
- Where:
- United Kingdom
- Date change rule:
- Fortnight starting with the last Monday of May
- Holiday emoji:
- 🍅
British Tomato Fortnight celebrates the delicious quality of British-grown tomatoes for 14 days, beginning with the last Monday of May. This annual event, from May 25 to June 7, 2026, encourages everyone to enjoy the fresh, flavorful produce. Look for British tomatoes in stores, try new recipes, and support local growers.
Want to sponsor British Tomato Fortnight? Learn how
Expected British Tomato Fortnight Deals
While official 2027 promotions are still ripening, history shows British Tomato Fortnight inspires a variety of fresh deals. Major UK supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Waitrose often feature discounts on British-grown tomatoes and related produce. Specialty grocers and local farm shops may offer tasting events or bundles. Look for recipe cards and cooking demonstrations in-store, promoting the versatility of tomatoes in everything from salads to sauces. Restaurants and pubs might highlight seasonal dishes featuring fresh British tomatoes. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as May 2027 approaches.
Platform Guide for British Tomato Fortnight
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #BritishTomatoFortnight. Share vibrant photos of your favorite tomato dishes, garden harvests, or visits to local farm stands.
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #BritishTomatoFortnight. Film quick recipe tutorials, ‘day in the life’ videos from a tomato grower, or fun facts about different tomato varieties.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #BritishTomatoFortnight. Share your favorite tomato recipes, local market finds, or tips for growing your own tomatoes at home.
British Tomato Fortnight Hero
A British Tomato Grower
History of British Tomato Fortnight
The goal of British Tomato Fortnight is to create awareness about the high quality of tomatoes that the country produces. The two-week-long celebration aims to raise awareness about the health benefits of eating tomatoes. It also aims to encourage consumers to support local growers.
Tomatoes originate from the Andes. The Incas and Aztecs were the first to cultivate the fruit as early as 700 A.D. The English word tomato comes from the Aztec ‘tomatl.’ Tomato growers work year-round to ensure that tasty tomatoes are readily available. Tomatoes are usually grown in greenhouses, and these not only provide a protective and controlled environment but ensure that there is minimal contact with pests and pesticides. The first glass greenhouses were built in Kent and Essex.
The British eat about 500,000 tons of fresh tomatoes every year, but only a fifth of the tomatoes the British eat are actually from the U.K. — four out of five tomatoes that are eaten in the U.K. are imported.
British Tomato Fortnight, along with the British Tomato Growers’ Association which represents 90% of producers in the U.K., is hoping to change that by 2030.
These two weeks are also an opportunity to educate consumers about other benefits of eating locally grown produce, one of the benefits being that it is good for the environment. Growers invest in better practices and technology which in turn reduces the impact on the environment. They use smart water recycling and LED lighting for renewable energy generation. They use natural predators to control pests and native U.K. bumblebees to pollinate the plants. Sustainability is a big focus during British Tomato Fortnight.
British Tomato Fortnight timeline
Tomatoes first arrive in Europe.
John Gerard, one of the earliest tomato cultivators, publishes his book "Herbal."
Tomatoes aren’t widely eaten in the U.K. until this century.
Commercial tomato growing begins.
How Businesses Can Celebrate British Tomato Fortnight
Local businesses can celebrate British Tomato Fortnight by highlighting British-grown produce. Restaurants and cafes can create special menus featuring fresh British tomatoes in salads, sandwiches, and main courses, perhaps offering a ‘Tomato of the Day’ special. Greengrocers and farm shops can host tasting events, offer discounts on British tomatoes, and provide recipe cards to inspire customers. Food bloggers and local media can feature interviews with British tomato growers, sharing their stories and tips for selecting the best produce.
British Tomato Fortnight FAQs
When is British Tomato Fortnight?
British Tomato Fortnight 2026 runs from Monday, May 25, through Sunday, June 7, celebrating the peak season for British-grown tomatoes and their delicious versatility.
How many tomatoes are grown in the UK?
The UK typically produces around 100,000 tonnes of tomatoes annually, primarily grown in glasshouses. This volume ensures a significant supply of fresh, locally grown produce during the British growing season.
What are the most popular British tomato varieties?
Popular British tomato varieties include standard round tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and larger beefsteak varieties. Growers also cultivate specialty types like ‘on the vine’ and various heritage tomatoes, each offering distinct flavors and textures.
Why are most British tomatoes grown in greenhouses?
Most British tomatoes are grown in greenhouses to provide a controlled environment that compensates for the UK’s often unpredictable climate. This method ensures consistent warmth and protection from pests, leading to higher quality and more reliable yields.
British Tomato Fortnight Activities
Plant tomatoes
Spend the next two weeks working on your tomato garden. Having a garden of fresh tomatoes is great for your physical health — the tomatoes have lots of nutrients, and gardening is great exercise!
Cook recipes that use tomatoes
Some of the most popular kinds of food in the world include tomatoes, like pizza. Alternatively, you can do some research and experiment with new tomato-based recipes.
Buy locally grown tomatoes
Buy tomatoes that are grown locally and support your local farmers. Locally sourced food requires less preparation and processing. To add to that, small farmers usually try to sell their produce right after they harvest it.
5 Interesting Facts About Tomatoes
Tomatoes were thought to be poisonous
The Latin name for the cultivated tomato is Lycopersicon, or wolf peach, which is a reflection of the belief that they were poisonous.
Tomatoes are fruit
Tomatoes are fruit, but we tend to use them as we do vegetables.
There are thousands of varieties
There are thought to be more than 3,000 varieties of heirloom or heritage tomatoes currently being grown globally and more than 15,000 known varieties in total.
The record for the heaviest tomato
The Guinness World Records’ record for the heaviest tomato weighed seven lbs 12 oz and was grown by G. Graham of Edmond, Oklahoma in the U.S. in 1986.
China produces the majority of our tomatoes
In 2019, the world production of tomatoes was 181 million tonnes, with China accounting for 35% of the total.
Why We Love British Tomato Fortnight
It supports local farmers
The goal of British Tomato Fortnight is to support local tomato farmers and the tomato industry. If we support the industry enough, it will keep on growing, and might even reach the point that the U.K. won’t need to import tomatoes anymore.
It teaches us to be aware of where our food comes from
British Tomato Fortnight educates us about where our food comes from. Nowadays, most of our food and produce undergo long processes and may even be treated with chemicals.
It supports sustainability
Sustainability and sustainable farming practices are a big focus around British Tomato Fortnight.
British Tomato Fortnight dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | June 1–14 | Monday–Sunday |
| 2027 | May 31–June 13 | Monday–Sunday |
| 2028 | May 29–June 11 | Monday–Sunday |
| 2029 | May 28–June 10 | Monday–Sunday |
| 2030 | May 27–June 9 | Monday–Sunday |
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