The Tomato in America: Early History, Culture, and Cookery

"Serious scholarly study traces biological origins of the tomato and evolution of human attitude toward its use from preconquest western South America, the Central America isthmus, and Mexico to 16th-century Europe. Then follows path of the tomato back across the Atlantic to 19th-century US. Also identifies another possible route for the tomato from the Caribbean to southeastern US. Drawn from scientific, medical, and historical works as well as traditional cookbooks"--Handbook of Latin American Studies,v. 58.