A friend told me I could have saved the tomato fruit and eaten them. I thought they were ruined by being frozen. If the fruit were not frozen and after a couple of days had shown no symptoms of injury, they could have been harvested and eaten. However, if they were injured by frost, then disposal is the appropriate treatment. According to Patricia Aaron, Home Economist for the Bernalillo County Extension Service, it is best to err on the side of caution.
Any fruit damaged by freezing begins to decompose, or rot, rapidly as it thaws.
Since there are fungi and other decomposing organisms which produce chemicals toxic to humans and pets, if the fruit was damaged, it should be discarded. According to Patricia, many people take unnecessary risks with unsafe food. They think they can just cut off the affected part of the fruit, and then it is okay. She points out that a fungus can extend further into the fruit than the damage. Though we may not see the fungus, it may penetrate far into the fruit.