Santa Sweets Products
UglyRipe Tomatoes®
A tomato that tastes like a tomato.
These unique-shaped tomatoes may look ugly with their wrinkled appearance but the taste of UglyRipe Tomatoes® is anything but. The flavor of these unique tomatoes is so exceptional that they are quickly becoming the gourmet favorite among chefs and consumers alike.
UglyRipe Tomatoes® is the Registered Brand Name for the Procacci, Gargiulo, Santa Sweets heirloom variety beefstake style tomato. Heirloom means that the variety at least 40-50 years old, is open-pollinated and has been preserved and kept true to its purest form. Heirlooms are not hybrid tomatoes which are grown for commercial purposes and tend to lose both flavor and color after several generations of breeding.
The UglyRipe Tomato is derived from the "Maramondo" variety. Originally marketed in France, it was crossed only twice, once with a variety to produce plant strength, and again for some disease resistance.
There is some tenderness when high in color. The tomatoes are picked at the peak of ripeness and color and have vibrant crimson color inside. Because of the possibility of bruising, they are hand picked into tubs and then hand packed into individual "spongy" sleeves and labeled with a PLU #3423. Some retailers will only handle the "Ugly-Ripes" and no other bulk tomatoes when available. Others will not carry "hothouse" beefstakes when these are available.
Most recently, UglyRipe Tomatoes® became the first product ever to be issued Identity Preservation status by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. This new voluntary government program ensures consumers that when you buy an UglyRipe, you’re getting an UglyRipe- the juicy, flavorful tomato you’ve grown to know and love! To find out more about the Identity Preservation/Verification Program, click here.