Hello Lxluthr and thank you for your question.
Encyclopedia.com illustrates the history of the tomato in the
following excerpt:
“Although cultivated in Mexico and Peru for centuries before the
European conquest, the tomato is one of the newest plants to be used
on a large scale for human food. When the Spanish explorers brought
back seed from South America, the plant was grown merely for ornament;
it was known as the love apple. Though the fruit was described as a
salad ingredient before 1600, it was commonly regarded as poisonous,
and only within the last century has it become recognized as a
valuable food. Indeed, all parts of the plant but the fruit are toxic.
It was reintroduced to the United States as a food plant c.1800 and
now ranks third among our vegetable crops.”
Source: Encyclopedia.com Website
http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/t1/tomato.asp
According to Dr. Mary Peet of North Carolina State University, the
origin of the tomato is the following:
“In the family Solanaceae, the tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.,
originated in Peru but was domesticated in Mexico. Introduced to
Europe in 1544, it was only slowly accepted in Europe because, as a
relative of nightshade, belladonna, and mandrake, it was thought to be
poisonous and cause cancer.”
Source: The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North
Carolina State University
http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/sustainable/peet/profiles/c19tom.html
Cathy Wilkinson Barash describes the history of the tomato.
“Tomatoes are native to South America, but took a long route to North
America. The originals - small berrylike fruits in clusters - were a
far cry from the large varieties we know today. These wild tomatoes
spread from South America to Central America and Mexico.There, the
pre-Mayan Indians began to propagate the tiny fruits, and the Aztecs
called the fruit tomatl. When the Spanish conquistadors came to the
Americas, they returned home not only with gold, but also the seeds of
the tomatl. The Spanish adopted the fruit and adapted its name to
tomate.”
In the United States:
“It is said that Thomas Jefferson introduced Americans to tomatoes. At
least he did grow and eat them, to the surprise of many. In 1820, Col.
Robert Gibbon Johnson ate a bushel of tomatoes on the steps of the
courthouse in Salem, N. J. His survival convinced farmers that
tomatoes were more than just ornamental plants. Then, in 1870,
Alexander Livingston of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, introduced Paragon, a
variety that he described as "the first perfectly smooth, deep-red
tomato ever offered to the American people."
Source: Christian Science Monitor
http://www.csmonitor.com/atcsmonitor/specials/athousandyears/homefront/food4.html
Here are some interesting facts concerning the history of the tomato.
“During the sixteenth century, explorers brought tomatoes to Europe
from the fruit's birthplace, the New World. These first tomatoes were
yellow, awarding the Italian name, "pomodoro," meaning golden apple.”
“Red tomatoes appeared later, compliments of two Jesuit priests
returning from Mexico with red tomato seeds. Italians immediately
accepted and included this strain of tomatoes in their cuisine.”
“When they first appeared in English print in the early seventeenth
century, tomatoes were referred to as "love apples."
“The 1700's marked the beginning of tomato cultivation North America.
Interestingly, this occurred only in home gardens. Tomatoes were
introduced to Americans by Thomas Jefferson, who brought them back
from France when he served as U.S. Ambassador.”
http://www.calsundry.com/Facts/interesting.html
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I hope you find this helpful and if there is anything that I've
written that needs clarification, please ask before you rate this
answer.
Best Regards,
Bobbie7-ga |
