This infographic, taken from the August 13 edition of Die Zeit, a weekly newspaper from Hamburg, highlights the role of tomatoes in Germany during the tomato season. Tomatoes, often called "golden apples" or "Peru apples," are round, red fruits that can also appear in shades of green, yellow, orange, and even dark purple. Though botanically a fruit, tomatoes are typically used as vegetables in cooking and are considered the world's most appreciated vegetable. Germany has seen a rise in tomato production over the past decade, reaching 109,000 tons in 2025. However, this amount still falls short of meeting the country's demand. On average, Germans consume 28 kilograms of tomatoes per person each year, compared to about 24 kilograms per person in France. In France, 10 kilograms of that annual consumption is in fresh form, according to data from 2024. There are thousands of tomato varieties worldwide, with 4,200 found in Europe alone. France officially registers 549 of these varieties, while Germany authorizes only 65. Of these, 38 are not suitable for commercial farming and are intended for use by amateur gardeners. Despite local production, Germany relies heavily on imports to meet its needs. Approximately 48% of the tomatoes consumed in Germany come from the Netherlands, with additional imports from Spain (22%), Morocco (10%), and Belgium (10%). The remaining 10% comes from other countries. In addition to fresh tomatoes, Germany also imports tomato concentrate, which is used by food manufacturers to produce juices and soups. This concentrate helps ensure a steady supply of ripe tomatoes throughout the year, even when seasonal production is low, as noted by Die Zeit.