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The next time you go to a big supermarket like Al-Fair or Matrah Cold Stores, take a look at the tomatoes. If you compare the tomatoes grown in Oman with the tomatoes imported from Holland , you will [1] some differences immediately . The Dutch tomatoes are all the same size and color , and they are all exactly the same perfectly round shape . Each one weighs exactly six [2] ( 175 grams ) . There they sit in nice [3] rows , waiting to be bought . They look like something produced by a machine , not by [4] . On the other hand , the local Omani tomatoes are different sizes and shapes . There are large ones and small ones . Some are round and others are more egg-shaped or [5] , and they range in color from yellow or [6] to bright red . They are much cheaper than the tomatoes imported from Holland , and more importantly , they taste much better .

The Dutch tomatoes are just one example of a vegetable that has been specially engineered for shipping to international markets . Scientists have found ways to grow tomatoes that have strong skins and are not too soft or juicy , so that they wonft be damaged during shipping . In Holland these tomatoes are picked by machines while they are still green , and then a special gas is used to make them all turn red at the same time . After that another machine sorts them into groups by size and weight . In the end you have vegetables that are [7] natural-looking nor good to eat . And it gets worse: Tests have shown these tomatoes contain less vitamin A and C than tomatoes that are grown and processed in the [8] way .

Specially engineered foods like the Dutch tomatoes are common [9] , and will probably become even more common in the future . So while it is still possible , take the [10] to buy local , farm-grown vegetables . Even though they donft look as perfect as the imports , they are cheaper -- and better for you!

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