Doesn't look so horrible to me.
That said, ISN'T THIS AMERICA? Why should the equivalent of a homeowner's association have the power to tell someone they can't sell a completely safe product?
Posted on 12/22/2004 3:13:23 PM PST by nickcarraway
Ordering a sandwich for lunch today? How about some lettuce and a slice of cardboard with that?
Cardboard. That's how customers describe the taste of winter tomatoes to produce-man Joe Procacci. Looking to improve off-season flavor, Mr. Procacci developed a tomato called the UglyRipe.
It's exactly what its name implies. Scarred by crevices, it's not much to look at, but its growers advertise it as "exceptional" in taste.
Customers apparently agree. Procacci initially saw sales of his Florida-grown tomatoes triple - until the Florida Tomato Committee put the kibosh on the UglyRipe last year because it doesn't meet the committee's standards for looks.
Anyone who goes to a grocery store in winter can recognize the Florida tomato, which accounts for 70 percent of US fresh tomatoes at this time of year. They're uniformly round, baseball-sized, pale and - subjectively speaking - not very flavorful.
The committee has decided that Procacci can ship his UglyRipes out of state, but only those that meet the Florida growers' criteria - which means, next to none. Letting the "uglies" sell up north would open the floodgates to any other type of misshapen tomato, the committee argues.
The committee appears to be technically within its rights. It's backed by a 1937 federal provision that allows farmers to join together and set marketing and quality standards for their produce.
But to Americans who might want a tastier tomato in the middle of winter it just looks like the committee is getting in the way of free trade.
There's a new tomato on the block. Let the people decide if it's any good.
I presume Mexico and Chile don't have committees to quash competitive sales outside their countries. "Take out gun, shoot self in head."
That said, ISN'T THIS AMERICA? Why should the equivalent of a homeowner's association have the power to tell someone they can't sell a completely safe product?
What sort of mud-sacked odorsqueezes comprise this committee?
Does anyone really believe the U.S. has an actual free market anymore? Sheeesh...let the customer decide.
Since I live in Florida...I'm hoping they'll let us have the uglies:)
| Florida Tomato Committee Samantha Winters Director, Education and Promotion samantha@floridatomatoes.org PHONE: 407-660-1949 FAX: 407-660-1656 |
Mailing Address: FLORIDA TOMATO COMMITTEE 800 Trafalgar Court Suite 300 Maitland, FL 32751 |
Wanna bet Mr. Procacci ain't one of 'em?
Could be a good marketing idea: The tomatos so good they don't want you to have them!
Just wait till you see our Hurricane ravaged tomatoes this year. 8-0
Too bad this commission couldn't extend its reach to ban DUMMIES from voting in Florida.
Ewehh, it's like the elephant tomatoe. Just kidding. Don't care how it looks, as long as it tastes good.
So, don't call them tomatoes. Export them as "Love Apples."
So, don't call them tomatoes. Export them as "Love Apples."
Me either. We would walk out into my grandmother's garden and pick 'em off the vine, rub 'em on our shirt and stand right here and eat 'em. Ugly doesn't matter. We didn't look at 'em...we ate 'em.
More of the FDR legacy. Sheesh, 65+ years later! Repeal the stupid law, already!
bttt
I remember doing that.
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