The History of the Tomato

The tomato history has origins tracing back to the early Aztecs around 700 AD.

Therefore, it is believed that the tomato is native to the Americas. It was not until the 16th century that the Europeans were introduced to this fruit by the early explorers that set sail to discover new lands. B

ritish admired the tomato for its beauty, but believe that it was poisonous, for most rich Europeans used pewter for their plates and silverware. The tomato, high in acid, leeched the lead out of the pewter, causing sickness and death. Poor people, who ate off of plates made of wood, did not have that problem. This is the reason why tomatoes were only eaten by poor people until the 1800s.

What changed in the 1800s? The significant migration from Europe to America and the traditional blending of cultures. But also, perhaps equally as important, was the intervention of pizza. Pizza was invented around Naples in the late 1880s.

The story goes that it was created by one restaurateur in Naples to celebrate the visit of Queen Marguerite. He made pizza from three ingredients that represented the colors of the new Italian flag: red white and green.

It was not regarded as a kitchen vegetable until the time preceding Civil War period in the United States. From this point forward, tomatoes have been a staple item in kitchens throughout the world. An interesting aspect of tomatoes history is the classic debate: is the tomato fruit or a vegetable; I guess it depends on who you ask. By definition, a fruit is an edible plant structure of a mature ovary from a flowering plant, usually eaten raw; some are sweet, like apples, but the ones that are not sweet, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, etc. are commonly called vegetables. Botanists claim that a fruit is any fleshy material that covers a seed, or seeds, whereas a horticulturist point of view would propose that the tomato is a vegetable plant. Until the late 1800s the tomato was classified as a fruit to avoid taxation, but it was changed after the Supreme Court ruled that the tomato is a vegetable and should be taxed accordingly. When all said and done, the history of the tomato has classified it as a poisonous beautiful plant, a tax avoiding fruit, and a taxable vegetable. Nevertheless, the tomato is the most popular vegetable in America and enjoyed by millions all over the world.

In 2019 the world’s record was set for the largest tomato 9 lbs. 10 oz. - that is as big as a pumpkin. Before that, in 1986 in Oklahoma, the largest growing was 7 lbs. 7 oz.

In 1930 in West Virginia, Marshall Biles grew several different types of tomatoes until he came up what he thought was the best tasting tomato. He sold each plant for one dollar, and after six years he was able to pay off his mortgage on his house. Needless to say, he named it the mortgage lifter.

In 1990s someone who had seeds from some Cherokee Indians, tried to grow plants from all the seeds; they’re now called Cherokee purple.

In 1897 Joseph Campbell found out the tomatoes kept very well canned, and popularized condensed tomato soup.

There are over 9000 varieties of tomatoes growing today.

The Sidney Garden Club would like to help you with any question you might be having with your flowerbeds and gardens. We meet the first Saturday of each month, usually at the Sidney, library from 2 PM to 4.