Tomato 'Rutgers California Supreme Space Select'

From: "Germination, growth rates, and electron microscope analysis of tomato seeds flown on the LDEF"

Authors: Ernest C....Read More Hammond, Jr , Kevin Bridgers and F. Denise Berry

"A batch of tomato seeds were flown in orbit aboard the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) for almost 6 y[ears] During this time, the seeds received an abundant exposure to cosmic radiation. Upon the return of the LDEF to Earth, the seeds were distributed throughout the United States and 30 foreign countries for analysis."

From: "From Wolf Peach to Outer Space—Tomato History & Lore" by Karan Davis Cutler, included in the book "Tantalizing Tomatoes"

"For six years, more than 12.5 million 'Rutgers California Supreme' seeds circled earth aboard a satellite, then were retrieved by the crew of the Columbia. Back on earth, the seeds were distributed to more than 3 million school children and 64,000 teachers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 34 foreign countries."