# Tomato-Based Sushi At fresh&co, Roma Tomatoes are Used as an Alternative to Fish in Veggie Sushi By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2016-10-21 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/veggie-sushi References: [psfk](http://www.psfk.com/2016/10/nyc-restaurant-uses-tomato-sushi-as-meat-alternative.html) & [freshandco](http://www.freshandco.com/) There are plenty of places for vegans and vegetarians to find plant-based veggie sushi, but NYC's 'fresh&co' is becoming a destination for the dish because of its inventive use of a familiar produce ingredient—Roma tomatoes. Mushrooms, eggplant, jackfruit and tofu are just some of the plant-based sources that are often used as meat substitutes, but fresh&co specifically selects tomatoes because of their rich umami and ability to serve as a stand-in for bluefin tuna. Roma tomatoes are now integrated as a meat alternative in fresh&co's Tomato Sushi Wrap, Poke Side Salad, Yuzu Bowl and the Aloha Salad. In response to the use of tomatoes as a meat alternative, fresh&co says: "The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive not only from the vegan community but from foodies looking for new, innovative foods in the market." ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.9/10 - Popularity: 64% | Activity: 74% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Health](https://www.trendhunter.com/health) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Plant-based Sushi:** Innovative use of Roma tomatoes as a meat alternative in veggie sushi opens up opportunities for plant-based sushi options. - **Alternative Meat Substitutes:** Exploring different plant-based sources like tomatoes as meat substitutes presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the food industry. - **Innovative Food Products:** Incorporating unique ingredients such as tomatoes in sushi demonstrates the potential for developing innovative food products. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Food Industry:** The use of tomatoes as an alternative to fish in veggie sushi creates opportunities for innovation in the food industry. - **Vegan and Vegetarian Food Market:** The inventive use of Roma tomatoes in veggie sushi appeals to the vegan and vegetarian food market, driving potential growth and innovation. - **Restaurant Industry:** Incorporating tomatoes as a meat substitute in sushi can differentiate restaurants and attract customers looking for innovative food options. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Modern Vegan Sushi Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sushi-momo.md) - [Sushi-Grade Plant-Based Poke Bowls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pokeworks-plantbased-tuna.md) - [Vegan Sashimi Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegan-sashimi.md) - [Unconventional Fish Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/woop4.md) - [Plant-Based Sushi Rolls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plant-based-sushi-rolls.md) - [Plant-Based Foodservice Sashimis](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plantbased-tuna-sashimi.md) - [Meatless Slab Sushi](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegan-spam-musubi.md) - [Plant-Based Tuna Bowls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/faux-ahi-tuna-bowl.md) - [Meatless Tuna Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegtoona.md)