Tomatoes The tomato and its close relatives are believed to have originated in the mountainous regions of the Andes (Peru, Ecuador and Chile). Other distinct relatives are found among the flora of the Galapagos Islands. These relatives can be found in many environments, from high, moist elevations in the mountains to dry coastal regions and variations inbetween. Domestication of the tomato is believed to have occurred with the early civilizations of Mexico. The name tomato may have been derived from the Aztec word tomatl (which really means tomatillo). European explorers brought the tomato from the Americas and disseminated it throughout Europe and Asia