History
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a species of herbaceous plant of the Solanaceae family and the fleshy fruit it contains. The tomato is native to northwestern South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and northern Chile). It was then domesticated in Mexico by Spanish settlers following the conquest of Tenochtitlan (current Mexico City) by Hernan Cortés in 1519. The tomato was introduced on the tables of European monarchs in the 16th century after the various voyages of the conquests of America.
It was then called Golden Apple because of its yellow color which is explained by the arrival of a variety of yellow fruit.
From the 16th century, it was cultivated and consumed in Europe.
Its date of introduction in Martinique is not known but we know that it was the Spanish conquistadors who introduced it in the Lesser Antilles and the Caribbean. It was then cultivated by slaves in small plots of land for market gardening.
Varieties
There are many varieties of tomatoes grown around the world. Men have tended to opt for larger fruits at the expense of smaller ones.
In Martinique are the variety Caraibo (see photo opposite) that we find and Heastmaster, TX 54 and TX 62.
The tomato is a plant of warm temperate to tropical climate. Its ideal temperature is between 15°C and 25°C. The tomato does not support temperatures below 2°C. Its growing season is quite long. It takes another 5 to 6 months between sowing and the first harvest.
The duration of the day is also important. In the metropolis, the tomato appreciates the duration of the day from 17 to 18 hours whereas with us which have a duration of the maximum day of 12 hours.
The tomato prefers soft soils, rich in organic matter, aerated, drained with a pH between 6 and 7. It fears root asphyxia. It is advisable to avoid parcels that are too windy.
Periods too rainy are also discouraged from planting seeds.
In Martinique, it is estimated from 1 to 5 the period between planting and harvesting.
Note that in Martinique, the cultivation of tomatoes is often subject to destructive bacteria crops. For example, in the late 2000s, a devastating whitefly of plants, whiteflies and bacterial wilt from another parasite had reduced by 3 times the production of tomatoes in the ground (2000 tons against 6000 tons at the beginning). 2000s).
Health benefits
Health benefits of tomatoes are very numerous. Rich in water (90 to 93% of its substance, the tomato is very refreshing and moisturizing, so a person who drinks little water can settle for a few tomatoes to reach his daily water needs.
The tomato helps protect from the sun's rays. It also helps to promote tanning. It makes the skin more beautiful.
With only 15 calories per 100 gr, it is a low-energy food but rich in vitamins and minerals.
Tomato is rich in fiber known to facilitate intestinal transit and thus digestion.
It helps to fight against gallstones and hypertension. It is also a powerful antioxidant and fights against different types of cancer.
Uses
The tomato is very present in the Martinique diet. In addition to the salads where it is almost always present, it is used in sauces for our traditional fish court-bouillon (see photo below), cod, shrimp dombrés and many others.
The tomato is also eaten in juice and soups.
