Harvest of the Month

Wild tomatoes originated in the Andes mountains of South America. They were domesticated in Mexico and introduced to Europe by the Spanish in the 16th century. They were incorporated into the Mediterranean diet by the 18th century.

There are about 1700 varieties of tomatoes. Tomatoes are considered scientifically a fruit but we treat them like a vegetable.

Tomatoes are a favorite for home gardeners because they are easy to grow and are versatile in their use. When selecting tomato plants to grow, consider what you want to make with them, how long they take to produce fruit. If space is a consideration, select between determinate or indeterminate varieties.

Chili peppers are eaten by a quarter of the earth’s population every day, in countries all over the globe. They are perennial shrubs belonging to the Capsicum family.

Peppers originated in South and Central America. Use of chilis may date as far back as 400 BC .The use of chilis spread around the world in the 15th and 16th centuries with European explorers and traders. They made their way into the US with slavery and were planted in southern farms and gardens. There are at least 4,000 varieties of chilis divided into 5 species and 28 wild forms. They range in flavor from sweet to fruity and mildly hot to extremely hot.

Both herbs and spices come from plants, but herbs are the fresh part of the plant while spice is the dried root, dried stalk, seed or dried fruit of the plant. Both are used as flavor enhancers and help distinguish the various cuisines of different cultures around the world.

Herbs and spices also have health promoting properties and are used as medicine in many cultures. The use of culinary herbs and spices to ease digestion and treat digestive disorders dates back to the time of Hippocrates in Ancient Greece and the first and second century in the practice of Ayurvedic medicine in India.