Not only that, but the Federation has access to the complete flora of many, many planets. And it's not unlikely that somewhere there's a plant that's very like tomatoes in taste, but that grows in environments that are difficult for Terran tomatoes. Like there might be some Andorian "tomatoes" that grow on planets that are too damp and cold for our tomatoes, or Vulcan "tomatoes" that grow in places too hot and dry.
And even if not, the Federation probably has access to GM vegetables, and much more sophisticated techniques to create and alter them, shouldn't be too difficult to create some hardier tomatoes.
In the end, Eddington is just full of himself.
And even if not, the Federation probably has access to GM vegetables, and much more sophisticated techniques to create and alter them, shouldn't be too difficult to create some hardier tomatoes.
In the end, Eddington is just full of himself.