JERSEY TOMATO

But what’s so special about the Jersey tomato?

Jersey tomatoes are notorious as being the best in the nation for their flavor, tenderness, and juiciness. And I certainly agree.

Jersey Girl tomatoes from our garden

While young chefs gush about heirloom tomatoes, I wonder whether they ever tasted a Jersey tomato like Big Boy or Jersey Girl, a nondescript red, round tomato yet juicy and flavorful.  Unlike heirlooms, this hybrid variety is easy to grow. We, as our parents did, use home-grown Big Boy tomatoes for eating and for canning. We choose them over Italian plum tomatoes because they yield more.

My favorite summer lunch: whole wheat bread drizzled with olive oil, a Jersey tomato, hot peperoncino, and a piece of Auricchio provolone.  It's worth waiting for every year.

Another summertime favorite - Tomato Salad

or as they say in Italian insalata di pomodoro

2 Jersey tomatoes

1 cucumber

1 small red onion

1 clove chopped garlic

1 hot or sweet green pepper

1 celery stalk
1/4 cup virgin olive oil

basil and parsley to taste

salt and pepper to taste




Slice tomato and cucumber, add onion, green pepper, celery, basil, parsley and minced garlic.  Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.  Mix well and serve.

I prefer this salad over any restaurant menu.

For your reading pleasure:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/26/dining/26soup.html?ref=tomatoes

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/sep/20/inside-the-quest-to-resurrect-americas-best-tasting-jersey-tomato#comment-59938553

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/29/science/flavor-is-the-price-of-tomatoes-scarlet-hue-geneticists-say.html?_r=3&ref=science