Solanum lycopersicum

Tomatoes became a staple in the United States during the 18th and 19th centuries. However, their journey to popularity was not immediate. Tomatoes are native to Central and South America and were introduced to Europe in the 16th century. Early European settlers in North America brought tomato seeds with them, but initially, tomatoes were not widely embraced. The Rutgers tomato becomes the dominant commercial tomato of the mid-20th century, prized by Campbell's Soup, Heinz, and others.