Cherry tomatoes originate from wild tomatoes native to western South America, particularly the Andes region including Peru, Ecuador, and northern Chile. These wild tomatoes are the genetic ancestors of all cultivated tomatoes. The tomato was likely first domesticated in the Puebla-Veracruz region of Mexico, with small-fruited varieties similar to cherry tomatoes selectively bred by indigenous peoples. Evidence of small tomato fruits like cherry tomatoes dates back to at least the early 1600s in Europe. Modern cherry tomatoes as we know them gained worldwide popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, with important breeding advancements made in Israel to improve shelf life and sweetness. The Greek island of Santorini and Sicily also have reputations for cultivating distinctive cherry tomato varieties.
