I've done so a number of times. From Calif. all the way to the East Coast and places in between. Only problem I had, was packing too many at one time and packed them too tight.LOL
I used the Priority Mail /Flat Rate Box and every shipment only took 2 days. I believe the cost is now around $8.95.

How did you cushion them? Did you use dry-ice or anything?

Emilyg-
I shipped many packages from NJ to Florida to my father-in-law who grew his own in NJ for many years and was never able to really enjoy tomatoes not grown in NJ. Put mine, which were always quite firm and sometimes with small streaks of green (tried to vary the ripeness so he could spread out his enjoyment) in a regular cardboard box, each tomato wrapped in one or two full sheets of crumpled newspaper, crumpling the paper evenly around, stuffing some more crumpled newspaper between the tomatoes and between the tomatoes and the sides, bottom and top of the box to fill any holes/loose areas, but not tight, just firm, shake the box to check the firmness of the packing and that the tomatoes don't move around,...shipped regular post office express mail(not overnight) and he never reported a crushed or rotten tomato!! Around 10-12 at a time. If I had some, I'd use bubble wrap or foam pellets between the wrapped tomatoes and between the tomatoes and the sides, bottom, top, but not necessary. No big deal...he'd savor, hoard, brag and very occasionally share. The newspaper insulates and cushions just fine...be a hero, like I was!!

I use bubble pack and newspaper. Had problems when sending ripe to kinda over ripe fruits, so it's best to send the ones that may need a few days of ripening on the counter.
No refrigeration (or dry ice) needed and the only time I ever pop tom's in the fridge is when I want to delay ripening. The shipping charges for Priorty Mail are affordable and you don't have to use their Flat Rate boxes, which are free and come in 2 sizes and a 70lb (yup 70lb) limit. They are kinda small, but you can use your own box and if I remember right, $8.95 cover up to around 6 or 7 lbs Priorty Mail. Sorry, no time to check right now, but check the U.S. Postal website and you'll see the rates there.

emilyg Quote:
"Has anyone ever tried this?"

Wanted to many times but always discouraged by the nah sayers I can see now by these posts that all would have gone well.

I would love to send some to my finace who is in Europe at the moment but legally cannot so he will have to wait when he gets here.

Go to the liquor store and get some boxes with dividers in them, the ones that keep the bottles from bumping together. Line the bottom of the box with bubble wrap and then several pieces of newspaper. Cut the divider the height of the tomatoes. Place each tomato in a divided space. Place newspaper on top of that. Next, put a piece of cardboard the size of the box on top of that. Then start the process all over again till you get the box full. You can wrap each tomato with newspaper or paper towels as an extra precaution.

Hey, great ideas all.

And thank you for responding, esp. to those who have done this before.

I thought for sure I would get replies which said I was nuts, ready for the loony bin.

But I really want my family to taste a real Kellogg's Breakfast, Pruden's Purple, and Rosa de Berne. I will have waaaaay too many on my hands when the time comes, and they have not had a Real Tomato in years, I bet.

emilyg:

Thanks for the useful thread! I was thinking of shipping some of my tomatoes to my cousin in NYC in a few months and now I have tons of ideas on how to do it.

Mike