where did tomatoes originate

Tomatoes originated in the Andes Mountains region of South America, mainly in the area that is now Peru and Ecuador. They grew wild there and were first cultivated by indigenous peoples such as the Incas. From there, tomatoes spread northward through Central America to Mexico, where the Aztecs further cultivated and developed larger and sweeter varieties. The tomato's name comes from the Aztec word "xitomatl." It was introduced to Europe by the Spanish in the early 16th century after the conquest of the Americas, where it was initially grown as an ornamental plant before becoming a food staple.