Storing tomatoes: our collective approach

Health Begins with Good Nutrition

For more than three years, we have been committed to fighting diabetes and high blood pressure, with a strong focus on prevention. Through our project in the municipalities of Parakou and Tchaourou, we directly reach more than six hundred people, while thousands of others benefit indirectly.

Learning by Doing

To encourage real behaviour change, we organise cooking demonstrations in local communities. During these sessions, participants learn to prepare healthy, balanced meals using local products. Special attention is given to food hygiene. In this way, people not only gain practical knowledge but also build the confidence to make informed, healthy choices.

Fresh Tomatoes Are Not Always Available

Access to fresh fruits and vegetables remains a major challenge. Yet these products are essential for preventing chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. In Benin, tomatoes are a staple in almost every meal, but during certain periods, they are scarce or too expensive. Climate change, rising market prices, and low incomes all play an important role.

Although we have established community gardens, it remains difficult to grow tomatoes year-round. During the dry season, there is often too little water. In addition, many families do not have refrigerators. As a result, part of the harvest is lost, and availability remains limited.

A Simple Solution with Big Impact

To address this problem, our Beninese team develops and promotes simple and sustainable preservation methods that are locally applicable and accessible to everyone. The tomatoes are first thoroughly washed and rinsed, then cooked for about an hour. At the same time, recycled glass bottles are sterilized in boiling water.

The cooked tomatoes are then immediately poured into the bottles and sealed airtight. Afterwards, the bottles are boiled again to ensure safe, long-term storage.

Using this method, tomatoes can be preserved for more than a year without the use of a refrigerator. For many families, this means greater food security during times of scarcity and increased self-reliance.

Our approach helps people maintain healthy eating habits and supports the prevention of diabetes and high blood pressure. In this way, we are building stronger communities together, with more knowledge, greater resilience, and better opportunities for a healthy life.