Tomatoes as Goods Brought from the New World to the Old World
The New World has had a rather significant impact on crops worldwide. Some of these contributions include maize, peanuts, avocado, cassava, and tomatoes (McNeill, 4). The latter crops originate from western South America and Central America.
Tomatoes were discovered by Cortez in 1519 in Montezuma’s gardens (Filippone, 2022). The man then brought the tomato seeds to Europe; however, they were not eaten there, and people only used them for decorative purposes. This plant’s first variety was yellow, which is demonstrated by the fact that its name in Spain and Italy was pomi d’oro, which means “yellow apples”.
Historical Perceptions of the New Goods
Perceptions of this good were complicated for an extended period of time. For example, when seafaring explorers returned the tomato to Europe, the reactions were mixed. The English believed that this plant was poisonous, which is why nobody ate it. Nightshade is a deadly relative of this vegetable, which could explain the stigma (Devlin, 2019).
Meanwhile, it was extremely popular in Italy, becoming a staple in local cuisine. Moreover, the Mediterranean climate was perfect for the cultivation of tomatoes. By the middle of the 18th century, England became more accepting of this plant. Eventually, the negative attitudes would change by the end of the nineteenth century. Condensed tomato soup was created by Joseph Campbell, which made his company relatively rich and drew general audiences to the vegetable.
However, the first recipe featuring tomatoes was the chowder from Maria Parloa’s The Appledore Cook Book from 1872 (Filippone, 2022). Another advantage of this vegetable is its highly acidic nature, facilitating the canning process. This is why it was the most frequently canned good by the late 19th century.
Modern Use of the Goods
Nowadays, it is grown in almost every country with an appropriate growing season. This plant is the fourth most popular and appreciated crop worldwide (Devlin, 2019). Thus, its past and present history emphasize the powerful impact of the discovery of the New World on the rest of the globe.
References
Bjarnadottir, Adda. “Tomatoes 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits.” Healthline. 2023. Web.
Devlin, Thomas M. “A Cultural History Of Tomatoes.” Babbel Magazine. 2019. Web.
Filippone, Peggy T. “Ever Wondered About the History of Tomatoes? A Tale of a Forbidden Fruit.” The Spruce Eats. 2022. Web.
McNeil, J. R., The Columbian Exchange, n. d., pp. 1-7.