In 1999, Procacci Bros. Sales Corp., one of the world's largest tomato growers, introduced the UglyRipe tomato, a flavorful heirloom variety tomato bred to be hardy enough to be shipped across the country.
In the winter, the only state warm enough to grow the UglyRipe is Florida. The odd-shaped tomato didn't meet standards set by the Florida Tomato Committee (FTC) for shipping tomatoes out of state, but the committee granted it an exemption. After three years of exceptional growth, Procacci ...