Tomatoes originated in South America and/or Mexico and were spread around the globe by the Spaniards in the early 1500s. The Spaniards and the Southern Italians were the first Europeans to incorporate tomatoes into their cuisine. Northern Europeans believed tomatoes to be poisonous and this belief carried over to the New World. It was not widely dispelled until the mid 1800s.
   A member of the nightshade family, the tomato plant’s leaves and stems are poisonous and should never be consumed. Though legally a vegetable, and generally thought of as one, tomatoes are a fruit. Wikipedia states there are as many as 7500 varieties of tomatoes. Those most commonly known to the American consumer are beefsteak, plum or Roma, cherry,

and pear. Recently heirloom tomatoes have gained in popularity. Heirlooms include a variety of tomatoes of all sizes and colors from yellow to purple, striped green, white, or black. Orange and yellow tomatoes have a lower acid content and are therefore the sweetest whereas green and white varieties have the highest acid content and are tart.
   Tomatoes are an excellent source of  vitamin A and vitamin C. They also contain vitamin K, potassium and lycopene (an antioxidant) as well as other vitamins and minerals.
   Studies consistently show a positive correlation between a high consumption of red tomatoes and a lower risk of cancer. This is believed to be a benefit of lycopene. The redder the tomato, the more lycopene it will contain.

Tomatoes are also known to be a heart healthy food, and when you cut open a tomato, it has chambers, just like your heart has chambers. 
   If you grow tomatoes, pick them off the vine when they are ripe. When you buy them at the store, leave them on your counter to fully ripen and refrigerate them only if they begin to feel soft.
   Tomatoes are excellent raw as a side dish, salsa,  juice, soup, or sauce. If you haven’t yet tried raw lasagna, you are in for a treat. Tomatoes are also delicious cooked as a casserole, sauce, soup or a soup base. Try new recipes and discover just how versatile the “love apple” can be.