Consumer acceptance of DNA Plant Technology Corp.'s (DNAP)premium tomato VineSweet has been so high in limited testmarkets that the company has decided to launch a full-scalemarket expansion this year.

DNAP announced Thursday that its tomato, sold under thebrand name FreshWorld Farms, achieved an average marketshare of 15.8 percent (on a volume basis) during its first threemonths on the grocer's shelves. This was three times greaterthan the company had expected.

DNAP (NASDAQ:DNAP) has been marketing the vine-ripenedtomato, developed through tissue-regeneration techniques(rather than genetic engineering), in 41 supermarkets in thegreater Philadelphia metropolitan area (at selected Acme andSuperfresh outlets) and in Columbus, Ohio (at selected Krogerand Big Bear Stores).

The tomatoes cost $1.99 a pound, which was on "the lower endof the prices for (standard) premium tomatoes," according to aDNAP representative.

DNAP of Cinnaminson, N.J., and Oakland, Calif., now intends todo a complete "rollout" into 500 grocery stores that are alsolocated in the test-market areas.

The company said it is already planting sufficient acreage tomeet this goal. It has developed a year-round growing anddistribution system and is working with growers in California,Mexico, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia and NewJersey, including growing partners Meyer Tomatoes on theWest Coast and the Six L's Packing Co. on the East Coast.

DNAP's stock gained 38 cents a share to close at $5 Thursday.

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