In 1793, the Creole refugees who fled the successful uprising of enslaved people in Haiti brought this tomato with them. Dr. Weaver was able to find this tomato depicted in paintings of that time period made by the Peale family of Philadelphia, well before it became a popular food in North America (see Still Life: Balsam Apples and Vegetables, 1820 by James Peale). The kids at Pentridge Children’s Garden in West Philadelphia explore the history of the Haitian Revolution while growing and eating this tomato. Our packets were illustrated by Jasmine Hamilton, and feature Marie-Jeanne Lamartiniére of of the revolutionary Haitian soldiers.

