Of South American origin, the tomato was brought to Europe
in 1596. At first cultivated as a curiosity, it was considered to be a violent
poison. This vegetable-fruit had to wait more than two centuries before its
nutritional qualities were recognized. President Thomas Jefferson cultivated
the tomato in his garden but didn’t eat the fruit. (‘Inventions and Discoveries’, by Vale-Anne Giscard d’Estaing and Mark Young)
