Is it the tomato?

The pommodoro (the golden apple)?

These pomodori were available today for sale at Sant’ Ambrogio Mercato.  Are they not gorgeous? They look like rubies and garnets, only edible.

But despite the modern association of tomatoes and Italy, the tomato is of course a new world fruit and was not even known in italia until the Spanish explorers brought back all sorts of flora from the americas.

Ciao, bella!  Where have you been all my life?!!