A further reason to those mentioned previously is that several sources have claimed tomato juice can prevent you from getting DVT (deep vein thrombosis).

According to, for example, [the Daily Mail][1]:

> Eating tomatoes can help prevent airline passengers developing deep
> vein thrombosis, British scientists have proved.

>The research has shown, however, that tomatoes contain a unique chemical which similarly thins blood[...]

So it's likely that it may not just be the taste, but people doing it for a safety reason.

  [1]: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-390221/Six-tomatoes-prevent-getting-DVT.html