As we reported in our April/May 2005 issue, the UglyRipe tomato had lost approval for exportation across Florida state lines in the winter months. The Florida tomato committee decided the fruit, despite its heirloom character, flavor and growing popularity, simply wasn’t round enough to represent a perfect Florida tomato.
But the Agriculture Department has changed its tune, requiring the UglyRipe follow a new identity-preservation program that uses a unique genetic fingerprint to assure the tomatoes are UglyRipe.
