"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.