Andrey, by Soviet Army I didn't mean fighting forces at all, I meant just what you said, maybe best said as consultants.
I only know from Tadesse and his Uncle that apparently before the Soviet occupation there were no black tomatoes in Ethiopia and afterwards there was and that the person who originally introduced the variety in the SSE Yearbook said his source was the Ukraine. So I think that many folks, Andrey, are assuming that some of the then Soviets actually did bring or send for varieties from home and did have some gardens, despite what you said above about the Soviet Army personnel. LOL After all, they occupied/consulted in Ethiopia for many many years, I'd have to check the dates before saying how many years.
Tadesse did go home for a visit when it was politically OK to do so, and of course I asked him to see if he could bring me back any tomato seed, and he did from the market in Addas Abbaba, and those two became the varieties Tadesse and Wuhib, his name.
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Carolyn
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