Tomato that doesn't exist according to the distributer!

13 years ago

Okay, yesterday, I purchased a cell pack of "Excellence" determinate toms by Bonnie from HD. I did some research, and according to the web, this plant doesn't exist.

I called Bonnie in AL, they said that they had never heard of it, and sent me to the FL growers (Waverly, FL), who ALSO didn't recognize the name. They did some research and told me that they had never grown this variety and could not find any information on it either.

I told them that I would go purchase another cell pack, and send 2 to the FL growers and 2 to the AL main office...they want to do DNA testing.

They are also sending their shipping supervisor to the Oviedo store to check on the plants.

One of the first things that threw me off was the fact that there were 3-4 plants in each cell, which Bonnie does NOT do.

Anyone know anything about "Excellence" determinate toms? I, as well as Bonnie are concerned that a GMO company may be using Bonnie's name to overtake the toms.

I'm not putting them in the garden, as I'm afraid that they may be a sneak attack to contaminate my organic heirlooms.

If anyone knows about these toms, would you give me a bit of info? Bonnie is VERY concerned that they might be sabotaged by a GMO company. They even asked if I would be willing to work with them in finding out the source of these toms. Serious stuff!

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

Again, if anyone knows about "Excellence" determinate toms, please let me know

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Comments (5)

amberroses
13 years ago
This situation doesn't make sense to me. Did the plants have one of the regular Bonnie labels with the name "Excellence" on it? Did you save the label?

I doubt that anyone would go to all this effort to introduce genetically modified genes into a home gardener's tomatoes. If the "Excellence" tomatoes crossed with an open pollinated tomato it would only change the seeds from that tomato which would only matter if you save seeds. Even if you save seeds from your heirlooms, you could just bag the blooms to make sure they don't cross. As far as the organic issue, I don't think Bonnie grows its transplants organically anyway.

I would guess this is a printing mix up or possibly some other company is wrongfully using Bonnie's name to sell more tomatoes.
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deannac
Original Author
13 years ago
The cell packs are labeled "Bonnie". I'm going to HD to get a copy of the info card to send to Bonnie. HD assured me that they ARE Bonnie toms, Bonnie says they're NOT.

I know that a certain GMO company plants gmo next to organic crops, when the crops cross pollinate, they claim the organic plants because there's a patent on the plants. It's happened to several home gardeners in the mid-west (although they're HUGE gardens, not simple raised beds like mine.

I think (hope I'm wrong) that your second opinion is correct. I believe that Bonnie's name IS being used to sell more produce.

I've made sure that there will be NO cross pollination, as I will keep them enclosed and hand pollinate.

The Waverly Bonnie co says that they ARE organic (of course, everyone has their own definition of organic).

I'll keep you posted as this unfolds.

If anyone else has these toms, I'd suggest that they do NOT plant anywhere near their existing toms, as we don't want GMO in our food.

Bonnie went as far as getting my contact info, asking for not only the plants to test, but to give them updates on the plants themselves.

I cannot find this variety ANYWHERE on the internet...strange, huh?

Thanks for the reply. That's what I get for buying plants...I always start mine from organic, open pollinated seed, but 3 damped off, so I figured I'd just grab a couple (I'm doing a test on EB growing methods) to see what kind of difference the soil/fertilizer makes...I'll explain that later, as I'm LATE for work, lol.

Again, thank you for the reply!

D
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User
13 years ago
I'll bet you it's a new variety that Bonnie was testing, and some order came up short so they threw a few of them into it. I had that happen once in SC when I got a pack of Park Seed tomatoes with a label that only had a number, no name. It had accidentally gotten put in with tomatoes for sale somehow, which was strange, since the test tomatoes aren't even grown in the same greenhouse. They said that the migrant laborers don't know the difference, and when an order comes up short, they just pull tomatoes from somewhere else.
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Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
13 years ago
GMO = genetically modified organism
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carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
13 years ago
I would not panic yet - this seems like a good mystery to solve & I can't imagine why anyone would try to sneak in a GMO tomato for home growers on purpose - that makes no sense to me either.

Seems much more likely that it's 1 of the above hypotheses - a mistake(my bet), or a competitor....
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Tomato that doesn't exist according to the distributer!

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amberroses

deannac
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Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)

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Tomato that doesn't exist according to the distributer!

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amberroses

deannacOriginal Author

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Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)

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deannac
Original Author