PICS: Massive Tomato Fight In Amsterdam

Dutch stage tomato fight against Russian sanctions...

Hundreds of young Dutch men and women turned Amsterdam's central Dam square into a blizzard of red goop on Sunday, as they pelted each other mercilessly with overripe tomatoes.

In theory, the event was set up as a protest against Russian sanctions blocking imports of European fresh produce. In practice, most participants turned out to experience the joy of smacking a loved one ¡ª or total stranger ¡ª with tomato pulp at close range.

With music pumping from a podium, the participants ¡ª most of whom were wearing white before the fight started ¡ª counted down from 10 to zero. Then a shipping container full of the fruit was emptied into the arena.

The idea was lifted from Spain's famed annual "La Tomatina" festival in Bunol.

The Netherlands vies with Mexico as the world's largest tomato exporter, and it sent $100 million worth to Russia last year. Dutch farmers have been offered a subsidy to either dispose of excess crops or donate them to food banks.

AP