Campari Tomatoes

[JoNorvelleWalker]

I have long been a fan of Campari tomatoes.  In the US Campari is a trademark, and may legally be one of several tomato varieties -- such as Mountain Magic which used to flourish in great numbers on my balcony.

 

The brand of tomato I prefer to buy is Sunset.  I cannot say I remember ever being disappointed by a Sunset tomato.  (Some varieties less so than others.)  Sunset tomatoes are greenhouse grown, and the ones available locally in New Jersey are produce of either Mexico or Canada.  Sadly, for somewhile this summer, I have not found Sunset Campari available to purchase, for blood or treasure.*  Either from Shoprite or amazon/Whole Foods.

 

However tonight at Shoprite I noticed the welcome sight of Sunset tomatoes.  A large display.  Ones from Mexico were labeled Sunset Campari tomatoes.  Ones from Canada were labeled Sunset cocktail tomatoes.

 

To my eye, save for the label, both containers looked the same.  Intrigued, after some thought, back and forth, I purchased the cocktail tomatoes from Canada to see how they compare with true Campari.

 

My working hypothesis is there is some legal machination why Canadian tomatoes may not be sold in the US as Campari.  Does anyone have an answer?

 

 

*Here blood is easier to come by than treasure.

 

[haresfur]

You had my hopes up. Too bad the name Bloody Caesar is taken.

[Anna N]

6 hours ago, JoNorvelleWalker said:

Ones from Canada were labeled Sunset cocktail tomatoes.

There certainly was a time when I could purchase Campari tomatoes (here in Canada) but recently the same tomatoes are labelled “cocktail”. Think there is a challenge to the trademark. 

Edited July 21, 2022 by Anna N
To clarify my location. (log)

[KennethT]

I also used to get them regularly and haven't been able to find them for the past few months. Hopefully they've solved whatever issues they had and will be back long term.

[rotuts]

there is this :

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campari_tomato

 

both TJ's and Market Basket have them

 

the containers are shaped the same

 

and that shape seems to be just Campari

 

in my area .

 

however the labeling is different 

 

TJ's come from Mexico   , capitol ' C '  and its trade-marked

 

MB's  ( Village Farms , Sinfully Sweet )  come from Canada , B.C.

 

no indication on the pack that compari is TM'd.   and the c from Canada is

 

lower case.

 

Im sure there are a lot of seeds for 1 lb .

 

$ 150,000  .

 

when the tomatoes are deep red

 

either vendor

 

they are quite tasty.

Edited July 21, 2022 by rotuts (log)

[Anna N]

Well the mystery deepens. 
Here.

 

[heidih]

Interesting. I had no idea they were a variety. I assumed (insert chuckle) that they were a brand. I've never looked past the consistent packaging of rectangular plastic shell with each one separate w/ bit of stem end still on.  Never checked for distributor or marketer. Maybe with recent supply chain issues and info on the consolidation of supply - think Driscoll berries - we are more conscious. I have not been buying them recently as i am such a tomato piglet I'd be through a container in a day or so. 

[heidih]

Well Piglet caved at Ralphs (Kroger) yesterday.  These are labeled Private Selection which is a Kroger thing. 

 

 

[JoNorvelleWalker]

Last night I had one of the Sunset "Cocktail" tomatoes from Canada.  Very good.  Sure tasted like Campari to me.

 

[rotuts]

@JoNorvelleWalker 

 

container and tomat

 

pic ?

[Anna N]

4 minutes ago, JoNorvelleWalker said:

Last night I had one of the Sunset "Cocktail" tomatoes from Canada.  Very good.  Sure tasted like Campari to me.

 

Notice that the tomatoes from Kroger do not display a trademark for Campari. I did a little further digging out of curiosity and was able to find these tomatoes labelled Campari available from walmart.ca. But for the most part I find them labelled as cocktail tomatoes. 

[rotuts]

My Canadian Campari's

 

 

from MarketBasket.

 

no trade mark

Edited July 23, 2022 by rotuts (log)

[Anna N]

15 minutes ago, rotuts said:

no trade mark

There is most definitely a registration mark beside the name Campari. It’s the R in a circle rather than the TM in a circle. 

Edited July 23, 2022 by Anna N
Typo (log)

[rotuts]

@Anna N 

 

interesting 

 

here is TJ's pack :

 

[Anna N]

Texas farmers have their  tractors in a tizzy over the trademarking of Campari.  
Here.

[Anna N]

3 minutes ago, rotuts said:

@Anna N 

 

interesting 

 

here is TJ's pack :

 

Again there appears to be either a trademark or a registration mark beside the name but I cannot be sure because of the quality of the photo coupled with my challenging eyesight.  

[rotuts]

@Anna N 

 

very interesting 

 

$ 150,000  a lbs !

 

I remember getting tomato 

 

seeds

 

her and there 

 

for EarlyGirl ...

 

30 seeds :  1.39 ... rsh 

 

thought it was more expensive 

 

counting the 30 seeds 

 

than the price 

 

and TX these days

 

is in a Tizzy about a lot of things.

Edited July 23, 2022 by rotuts (log)

[Anna N]

So a little research seems to suggest that a TM can be used even when the registration of the trademark is still pending. An R can only legally be used once the registration is granted. 

[rotuts]

 

Im guessing

 

S of the B :

 

its trademark, registered

Edited July 23, 2022 by rotuts (log)

[haresfur]

Am I the only one bothered by all that plastic packaging? Tomatoes that look like that here come loose.

[rotuts]

@haresfur

 

no , its a concern for me.

 

I started getting strawberries 

 

in similar packs 

 

recently 

 

and then the Campari's

 

Ive accumulated 

 

white a few of those plastic containers 

 

I(m not so happy about it 

 

but bothe the strawberries 

 

and the tomatoes 

 

are the best I can get 

 

Id love to see h9w produce 

 

and campari 's 

 

look like where you shop.

[Anna N]

1 minute ago, haresfur said:

Am I the only one bothered by all that plastic packaging? Tomatoes that look like that here come loose.

Are they travelling the distance between Mexico and Ottawa? In the summer they are grown in Canada and in the winter in Mexico. The ideal would be to buy only local. Reality is that damn little can be grown in Ottawa in February.
Loose tomatoes do not travel well. We would all be happy to get rid of plastic but we still have to live in a real world. 

[rotuts]

some time ago

 

there was a long article 

 

in the NYTimes re : Greenhouse tomatoes .

 

the Tomatoes on the Vine 

 

loose , w vine 

 

and perhaps many others 

 

are grown in Maine , USA 

 

in green house

 

w lights , etc 

 

all year long 

 

if you've been to Maine , USA in the winter 

 

you would have noticed 

 

its cold , sometimes very cold 

 

and there is very little light , from the Sun

 

that left to go South.

 

no excuses 

 

its the way it is 

 

P.S. :  Campari , when re and plump 

 

are significantly more tomato-ey

 

than tomatoes on the vine

 

this are ( back then ) $ 3.99  lbs  RocehBro

 

same tomato , at the same time , $ 1.99 @ MarketBasket

 

going down to $ 0.99  @ MB , and 1.99 at RB

 

those needed to be ripped w an apple in a paper bag 

 

for a bit of time , to resemble tomatoes .

 

both Camparis at each place are $ 2.99 lbs now.

[heidih]

35 minutes ago, Anna N said:

Are they travelling the distance between Mexico and Ottawa? In the summer they are grown in Canada and in the winter in Mexico. The ideal would be to buy only local. Reality is that damn little can be grown in Ottawa in February.
Loose tomatoes do not travel well. We would all be happy to get rid of plastic but we still have to live in a real world. 

The ones I posted (w/o mark) state greenhouse hydroponically grown so theoretically maybe even in your region is possible. I think maybe the packaging has become their mark.

[rotuts]

some times my

 

Campari have vines on them

 

some time not .

 

Ive noticed what when there are no vines

 

the might be ripener and more tasty .

 

only so much y9u can do when harvesting 

 

and the tomato , on its own

 

fall off the stem .