Cherry tomatoes originate from the wild tomatoes native to western South America, particularly the Andes region including parts of Peru, Ecuador, and northern Chile. These wild tomatoes are the genetic ancestors of all cultivated tomatoes. The tomato was first domesticated in the Puebla-Veracruz region of Mexico, with indigenous peoples like the Aztecs selectively breeding small fruits that resemble modern cherry tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes have been cultivated since at least Aztec times (around the 15th century CE). The modern commercial varieties were further developed in the 1970s, notably in Israel and by British breeders, who made them sweeter and more shelf-stable for the global market.