 For over 50 years consumers have been complaining that winter tomatoes "taste like cardboard." Responding to their request, Procacci Brother's Research and Development team developed a tasty tomato variety called the Uglyripe™.
Nationally, Uglyripe™ Tomatoes have become one of the fastest and best selling tomatoes in the category. The characteristics of an Uglyripe™ are it's noticeable ridges and cracks, which are identifiable features of a homegrown tomato.
The Florida Tomato Committee (FTC), which was established in 1955 under Federal Marketing Order No. 966, annually regulates the Florida fresh tomato industry South and East of the Suwannee River from October 15 through June 15. The Committee sets standards pertaining to the shape of round tomatoes that may be exported from Florida.
Response to the Florida Tomato Committee
The Uglyripe™ has received an exemption from the grade standards during its first three seasons. However, the FTC has denied the exemption for the fourth season, saying the Uglyripe™ does not the have the appropriate shape to meet the grade standards. The Uglyripes™ were prohibited from being shipped from Florida last winter and spring. We suffered a $2.8 million loss.
The Florida Tomato Committee consists of 12 competitors, which we feel are jealous and are preventing consumers nation wide from enjoying a tomato with a homegrown taste.
You can help by writing the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250. Also you can help by contacting your Member of Congress to ask that the U.S.D.A Marketing Order no longer apply to the Uglyripes. You can get contact information regarding your Member of Congress from http://www.house.gov and your Senators from http://www.senate.gov.
If you like to voice your opinion to the Florida Tomato Committee click here for contact information.
Below are letters from some of our consumers and links to articles about the UglyRipe™:
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