The New Jersey Department of Agriculture recently highlighed the Jersey Fresh tomato season with special visits to the shore towns of Wildwood, Atlantic City and Seaside Heights where the NJDA marketing staff distributed free Jersey Fresh grape tomatoes to beachgoers.
“New Jersey is well known for producing great tasting tomatoes with a flavor that is unmatched,” NJDA Assistant Secretary Joe Atchison III said. “The grape tomatoes we are distributing can be eaten as a delicious and nutritious snack immediately or be used in a variety of recipes and dishes. We encourage everyone to purchase Jersey Fresh tomatoes and other Jersey Fresh produce throughout the growing season.”
New Jersey is annually among the top 10 producers of tomatoes in the U.S. In 2021, New Jersey had a production value of $19 million for tomatoes, according to the USDA, when Garden State farmers harvested 56 million pounds of tomatoes on 2,900 acres.
The tomato season for New Jersey lasts through the end of October. Go to www.FindJerseyFresh.com to see where Jersey Fresh tomatoes are available locally and to find recipes that include delicious Jersey Fresh tomatoes.
Here’s a great recipe for your next summer gathering from the Jersey Fresh website for Peach Tomato Corn Salsa.
Peach Tomato Corn Salsa
Ingredients
- 1 Jersey Fresh peach, diced (about 1 cup)
- 2 Jersey Fresh large beefsteak tomatoes, each cut into 16 wedges
- 1 cup Jersey Fresh sweet corn kernels (from about 2 ears)
- ¼ tsp Kosher salt
- 2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (about ½ cup) – we used Sugar Maple Jerseys Feta cheese
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ cup Jersey Fresh Honey Vinaigrette
- ¼ cup canola oil
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar (regular or white)
- 2 TB Jersey Fresh honey
- 2 tsp Jersey Fresh shallot, minced
- ¼ tsp Kosher salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
Directions
1. For the dressing: Combine all ingredients in a clean jar and cover with lid. Shake until fully combined
2. For the salad: In a large bowl, combine peaches, tomatoes, and corn. Sprinkle in salt. Drizzle with ¼ cup of vinaigrette and toss to coat.
Distribute salad on large serving plate and top with feta and sprinkle with pepper.
NOTE: This is also great as a dip. Instead of cutting the tomatoes into wedges, dice them up and serve with tortilla chips!
