In September 2008 the SRGA held a ‘blind’ tasting of 25 samples of tomato, including a few repetitions. They were assessed for taste, texture and appearance first by four external judges: a local gardening journalist, the owner of an Italian restaurant, an Italian buyer of ingredients for restaurants and a market trader, and then by members of the public. There was close agreement in ranking between the specialist judges and the public, though the former were harsher in their marking – as listed below.