A fight will break out in Reno today, promising to turn an entire street into a river of red.
La Tomatina En Reno, a food fight expected to draw more than 3,000 people, will waste thousands of pounds of tomatoes in order to raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society. But is this really the way a charity wants to support its work Most everyone remembers their parents coaxing them to clean their plate with words like, “There are millions of people who won’t eat anything today, and you won’t even finish your lima beans.†Although shipping those lima beans to starving African nations isn’t all that feasible, mom’s basic premise still holds true: wasting food is irresponsible. Just because a tomato is past its prime, doesn’t mean it’s worthless. Here’s a way to use them for a . And according to the UK food guide, “Overripe tomatoes, provided they are not moldy or rotting, are perfect for making sauces and even briefly cooking fresh tomatoes releases their lycopene.†La Tomatina En Reno is patterned after a in Bunol, Spain, where tens of thousands of participants giggle with glee while flinging produce at each other.
The tomato fight in Reno plans to use 25 tons of tomatoes. It will cost $10 a person for the opportunity to become part of the big batch of tomato soup. For another $50, participants can toss tomatoes at the mayor of Reno, according to the .