Tomatoes: History, Origin, Facts... or Fiction?

A tomato importer, John Nix, decided to challengedetested; in ten years almost every variety of pill
the law after scrutinizing the Tariff Act. His caseand panacea was extract of tomato. It now
relied on the fact that tomatoes were a fruit andoccupies as great a surface of ground as
not vegetable, therefore, it should not becabbage, and is cultivated the length and breadth
subjected to the Tariff Act. Nix's objectionsof the country." - year, Bruits had eight cultivatars
brought the case to the Supreme Court in 1893.listed in his catalogue. A few years later, in 1863,
Although Nix had a solid case, the Supreme Courta popular seed catalogue had 23 cultivars listed.
rejected the botanical facts and continued toOne of the listed cultivars was Trophy, the first
refer to tomatoes as a vegetable.Plant familymodern-looking, large, red, smooth-skinned variety
Tomatoes belong to the genus Lycopersicon,which was sold for $5.00 for a packet of 20
while potatoes belong to the genus Solanum; Bothseeds.Large scale breeding for desirable traits
of which belongs to the same "flowering plantbecame common in the 1870s in both the US and
family" solanaceae. The similarities in leaves andUK. In fact, by the 1880s several hundred
flowers justifies this taxonomic grouping.The UK -cultivars had been named and it was clear that
Introduction of the tomatotomato had grown on the western culture.
When the tomato plant was first introduced intoAccording to a study conducted at Michigan
the UK, some areas were not willing to consumeAgricultural College in the late 1880s, 171 of the
the fruit because they were considered poisonous.named cultivars represented only 61 truly unique
Other plants that were poisonous, and in thevarieties, many of which were only marginally
same family as the tomato, such as the henbane,different.Heirloom varieties
mandrake and the deadly nightshade wereAlthough Central American is thought to be the
reasons to be concerned.The deadly nightshadecenter of domestication, throughout Europe and
(Atropus belladonna), in particular, resembled thelater in North America, further domestication
tomato plant the most, and was used as aoccurred on a more intense level. Eastern Europe
hallucinogenic drug, as well as for cosmeticappeared to produce large numbers of high quality
purposes in various parts of Europe. In Latin, thevarieties. Tomatoes are self-pollinating plants which
name "belladonna"; literally means "beautifultend to become genetically homozygous after
woman." The women in medieval courts wouldmany generations. Tomatoes will rarely cross
apply drop of deadly nightshade extract to theirbreed and usually produce plants will similar
eyes, dilating their pupils, a fashionable statementcharacteristics as the parents.Because of
at the time.When the deadly nightshade wastomatoes natural breeding process, early cultivars
taken for it's hallucinogenic properties, thedid not change much and were kept in a family or
consumer would experience visuals and a feelingcommunity for a long time, hence the name
of flying or weightlessness. German folkloreheirlooms. There are cultivars that dates back to
suggests it was also used in witchcraft to evokeover one hundred years that are still produced
werewolves, a practice know as lycanthropy. Thetoday. Most heirloom varieties are different in
common name for tomatoes in Germanycolor, size and shape. Some varieties are black,
translates to "Wolf peach," which was simplyred with black shoulders, dark purple, rainbow and
another reason for Europeans to avoid thegreen. In terms of size, some are the size of a
plant.North America - Introduction of the tomatocherry to larger varieties weighing over 2
Tomato plants were transported by colonistslb.Heirlooms - a story
from Britain to North America. The plants wereSome heirloom varieties have interesting histories
most valued for removing pustule (Pimples,as well; at least I think so. Lets talk about the
Blisters - Pus filled, inflamed skin). The inventor ofstory of a heirloom name Mortgage Lifter. A
peanut butter, George Washington Carver,radiator repair shop owner, Charlie, experienced
strongly urged his poor Alabama neighbors tohard times, as did much of the nation through the
consume tomatoes because of their unhealthyGreat Depression. Because of financial reasons,
diet. However, he had little success convincingmost people abandoned their cars and Ol Charlie's
them that the plants was edible.Early efforts bybusiness too a hard hit. He decided to use his four
merchants to sell tomatoes were not verylargest fruit producing tomato plants to cross
successful. It is said that the fruit was brought tobreed repeatedly with each other to create a
the liberal hamlet of Salem, Mass. in 1802 by aplant that produced two pounds of fruits.Claming
painter who also found it difficult persuadingthat his plants could feed a family of six, Charlie
people to try the fruit. New Orleans cuisine waspeddled the crops for a dollar per plant. Within
reported to have used tomatoes by 1812,four years, Charlie generated enough money to
however, doubts about the fruit lingered in somepay off the $4,000 dollars mortgage on his home,
areas.It's thought that doubts about the plant'swhich led to the heirloom name "Mortgage
edibility was laid to rest, when Colonel RobertLifter."Heirlooms - names & origins
Gibbon Johnson announced that he will consume aIn general, the names of heirloom varieties links
bushel of tomatoes in front of the Bostondirectly to their history. For example, the Baptiste
courthouse at noon on September 26, 1820.family in Remis, Fance cultivated the First Pick
Thousands of spectators turned out to watch thevariety. Picardy's history also dates back to
man commit suicide (At least, so they thought)France (1890). Besser arrived from the Freiburg
by consuming the poisonous fruit. It is said thatsection of Germany, while Schellenburg's Favorite
spectators were shocked when they realized thecame from the Schellenburg family near Manheim,
Colonel will survive after consuming numerousGermany.Elbe was cultivated in 1889 near the Elbe
tomatoes. This story is from an old farm journalRiver in Germany. Since the 1870s, the Amish in
and may not be very reliable, however, it's quitePennsylvania cultivated the Amish Paste variety.
entertaining.Tomato popularity on the riseBrandywine was also cultivated by Amish farmers
Throughout the western world, tomatoes begannear Brandywine Creek in Chester County
to grow in popularity. In the 1820s, severalPennsylvania in 1885. The hills of Virginia is thought
cookbooks included recipes which required orto be the origin of the Hillbilly variety. Old Virginia
called for tomatoes. Tomatoes were sold by thewas cultivated in Virginia as well in the early 1900s.
dozens in Boston's Quincy Market in 1835. InIn 1953 Campbell Soup Co., introduced the Ace
Thomas Bridgeman seed catalogue, 4 varieties ofvariety which is still popular for canning. On Edgar
tomatoes were listed: Cherry, Pear, Large YellowAllan Poe's estate, a cultivar found growing there
and Large Squash.Bruist, a seed merchantbears his mother's maiden name, Hopkins.Please
commented on the tomato in 1858 - "In takingbear in mind that these heirloom stories may be
retrospect of the last eighteen years, there is notrue or false, in part or whole, and may be
vegetable on the catalogue that has obtained suchinaccurate or exaggerated.This article is courtest
popularity in so short a period as the one nowof - The Agriculture & Gardening Search Engine.
under consideration. In 1828-29, it was almost