Dutch Throw Giant Tomato Fight Over Russian Sanctions

Hundreds of men and women in Amsterdam took to the streets yesterday to protest Russia's ban on European food imports with a giant tomato fight.

According to AP, the decision to protest Russia's embargo in the messiest way possible was inspired by Spain's annual "La Tomatina" festival. Would-be revelers and protesters merely had to pay 15 euros, or about $18, for entry into the hourlong event, where they were then allowed to pelt each other with tomatoes to their hearts' content.

"It was hard in there. It was mean. But it was fun," said Lois Bloedjes, who joined the tomato fight with her sister. "Everything became one big pile of mush. There were people swimming in it on the ground."

Proceeds from the event will go to tomato growers who have been hurt by Russia's sanctions. The Netherlands are the world's second largest exporter of tomatoes, after Mexico, and exported $100 million worth of tomatoes to Russia last year.

The event used 120,000 tomatoes that had been labeled as unfit for human consumption. After the event, the resulting tomato mash was to be cleaned up and sent to a biogas production company.