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From Campbell’s, an offer of free tomato seeds

You've eaten them from a can. Now you can grow the tomatoes that Campbell Soup Co. uses in its iconic tomato soup.

You've eaten them from a can. Now you can grow the tomatoes that Campbell Soup Co. uses in its iconic tomato soup.

In an effort to support agriculture - that practiced by individual households, community gardens and FFA chapters - the Camden-based company is making available its specially cultivated seeds used to grow the fruit for its soup.

The company uses many varieties of tomatoes, but will be providing seeds for a Roma-type tomato, which company spokesman John Faulkner says is good for both eating and cooking.

Through June 21 (or while supplies last, the company says), when you buy any variety of the the company's canned condensed soup and order a free packet of seeds through the company Web site (HelpGrowYourSoup.com), the company will donate seeds to the FFA (nee Future Farmers of America). A total of 22.5 million seeds will be donated.

For those who have never grown a tomato, the Web site has a tomato-growing primer.

The company is working with the FFA and the nonprofit Urban Farming Inc. to set up community gardens in cities including New York City, Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta, as well as at the Camden Children's Garden. Also, the company has sponsored the construction of three greenhouses in schools.

The company, since last fall, also has supported the restoration of historic barns in Illinois, Kansas and Tennessee, with New York state and Oregon next on the list.