Ok….so the title is a bit of wishful thinking. But if you’re
not from the area, you need to do know that New Jersey is divided into two
portions; New York and Philadelphia. I am from Philadelphia, kind of. I live in
the southern portion of New Jersey which has a Phillies Red summer and an
Eagles green fall. Not like up north where they wear Yankee hats year round and
root for the NY Giants and the NY Jets, both of whom actually play home games in New Jersey…in the same stadium. One that was just built to replace an
outdated venue…that was also in New Jersey. I won’t even question the logistics
of this cross-state maneuvering since I recently found out that the Cincinnati
Airport is in Kentucky.
Anyway, I get my coffee from a WaWa (not a 7 Eleven!), and summer
at the Jersey shore (not that Jersey
Shore – they are from the New York portion of New Jersey). You may need to get
out a map to follow me.
Recently, a friend from the northern portion of our state
spent the day with me. We have an ongoing banter about which part of the state
is worth our highest-in-the-nation property taxes. Hers are higher than mine because property
values are higher – much higher in northern New Jersey. “That’s because we have
mountains, rolling hills and horse farms, she brags, “You have oil refineries”,
I respond. New Jersey Turnpike Exits 13, 14, and 15. Check your maps. And so it goes, back and
forth, neither surrendering an inch. It has been going on for years.
Fortunately, we have much more in common than both living in a state where the
Governor recently responded to a heckler with “You can’t insult me, I’m from
New Jersey”. ???
But as I was fixing us lunch, a whole new north/south “claim
to fame” topic came up. I had fried up some wonderful hard-wood smoked bacon
that I actually bought from a butcher in (real) Philadelphia to make BLT’s.
Since it was winter, as I was preparing our sandwiches, I lamented “I would love
to have a Jersey tomato right now.” She smiled, “another great produce from the
north”. Okay….. North Jersey can lay
claim to Bruce Springsteen, the Soprano’s, the Cake Boss, Frank Sinatra, MTV’s Jersey Shore and even part of the
Delaware Water Gap! But not, not the Jersey Tomato!
My laptop was on the center island where we were about to
eat lunch. I stopped what I was doing to research this statement. “Hey, I’m
hungry”, she bellowed, “You are also ill-informed” I responded as I Goggled
“Jersey Tomato”….and there it was in all of its’ sweet, sweet splendor! This
summer fruit (yes class, seeds inside make it a “fruit”) is legendary for its juicy
sweetness. And come July, a tomato, a
little olive oil and a salt shaker - is lunch. We read through the history that would settle
this latest debate. It proved that even as the 5th smallest state in
the country, New Jersey is the 4th largest in tomato production, and they are
“mostly grown in Gloucester, Cumberland, Salam and Atlantic counties” ALL IN
SOUTH JERSEY. We ate in relative
silence, occasionally mentioning the weather.
Southern Jersey lives in the shadow of its’ northern half.
We are a cluster of suburbs surrounding the Pine Barrens, blueberry fields,
peach orchards, cranberry bogs and road side stands that sell silver queen
white corn and blue claw crabs. Our shores are crowded with families. At our
most southern point is Cape May where huge Victorian homes dot the landscape of
the oldest seashore resort in the nation.
Up the turnpike, the other half of the state provides us with politicians,
state lottery winners and a reputation that often makes us the butt of late
night talk show jokes. I’m beginning to think that the people of the great states
of the Carolinas have the right idea!
“That was a good sandwich, but you are right about one
thing”, my old friend finally admitted. “It would have been better with a
Jersey tomato, even if it was grown in the southern half”. But then she couldn’t resist, “Did you know
that Merle Streep was born in North Jersey?” It never ends.
there is nothing... and I mean NOTHING like a Jersey tomato. I am a New Yorker. Now residing in Connecticut. I won't take sides with the north or the south. I remain neutral, like Switzerland. However, in the case of the tomato, I will side with my Southern, neighboring state. Any day! Damn I'm hungry. A tomato sandwich... mayo and bakery-fresh bread.... I'll close my eyes and dream!
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Hey Ms. Switzerland - thanks for the post! I too have been dreaming about a Jersey tomato except I like mine tossed with a can of cold string beans with chopped onions and olive oil. It is the best!
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