John Innes Centre: US gardeners rush to snap up purple tomatoes pioneered in Norfolk

A genetically modified purple tomato first produced by Norfolk scientists nearly two decades ago has been enthusiastically adopted by home gardeners after it was made available for purchase in the United States. 

Seeds of the high-anthocyanin purple tomato are in strong demand, with more than 1,200 packets selling within 48 hours of launch, and 9,600 sold in the first week. 

Norfolk Healthy Produce, a subsidiary of Norfolk Plant Sciences founded by Norwich Research Park scientists Professor Cathie Martin FRS and Professor Jonathan Jones FRS, launched its striking new product on February 6. 

The commercial launch of their first product, purple tomato seeds retailing at $20 per pack, marks a major milestone in a long journey for Professor Martin, a group leader at the John Innes Centre, who announced the purple tomato in a landmark scientific paper published in 2008. 

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