Tomato Culture

Tomatoes are edible fruits. They were originally grown for medical purposes in the South American Andes, but were first used in culinary settings in Mexico, spreading into the Americas during the Spaniards colonization of America. Many varieties are grown now, sometimes in cooler temperatures in greenhouses.

Culinary
The tomato's culinary properties are extremely diverse, ranging from being used raw in sauces, salads, dishes, and even drinks. While it is categorized as a fruit, in culinary purposes it is considered a vegetable. It is also considered a vegetable under U.S. customs.

Etymology
The English word "tomato" actually stems from the Spanish word "tomate", which in turn comes from the Nahuatl word "tomatotl". The first time the word ever appeared in print was in the year 1595. Originally thought to be poisonous, as they were a member of the nightshade family, known to be lethal, tomatoes were found to not be poisonous, although, the leaves still are.

Types
There are many types of tomatoes, including:
 * Globe tomatoes
 * Beefsteak tomatoes
 * Oxheart tomatoes
 * Plum tomatoes
 * Pear tomatoes
 * Cherry tomatoes
 * Grape tomatoes
 * Campari tomatoes