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The Tomato
(Solanum lycopersicum,) is a plant in the nightshade family, along with eggplant, chili peppers, the potato and tobacco. The tomato is native to Central and South America and southern North America from Mexico to Peru. Tomatoes are perennials, often grown as annuals, with more than 125 tons grown in the world today. They are eaten freely throughout the world and much research has been done on the healthful benefits of the tomato. China is the largest producer of tomatoes, followed by the United States, Turkey, India and Egypt. There is an ever increasing demand for organic and heirloom tomatoes in today’s market, as well, with many seed merchants offering a large selection of both.
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