[originaltext] The tomato is the world’s most popular fruit. And yes, botani

The tomato is the world’s most popular fruit. And yes, botanically speaking it is a fruit, not a vegetable. More than 60 million tons of tomatoes are produced per year, 16 million tons more than the second most popular fruit, the banana. Apples are the third most popular (36 million tons), then oranges (34 million tons) and watermelons (22 million tons).
    Tomatoes were first cultivated in 700 AD by Aztecs and Incas. Explorers returning from Mexico introduced the tomato into Europe, where it was first mentioned in 1556. The French called it "the apple of love," the Germans "the apple of paradise." The scientific term for the common tomato is lycopersicon, which means "wolf peach." It is a cousin of the eggplant, red pepper, ground cherry, and potato, also known as the nightshade. There are more than 10,000 varieties of tomatoes.
    Tomatoes are used in many food products, including, of course, tomato sauce (ketchup), pasta and pizza. According to a Steel Packing Council survey of 1997, 68% of chefs use canned tomatoes for convenience, quality and flavoring.