Jersey Fresh Information Exchange from the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station

Back by Popular Demand!

The Ramapo Tomato

The Ramapo Tomato was developed at Rutgers NJAES in 1968. Many years ago it disappeared from seed catalogues. Seed companies were favoring varieties that produced higher yields for commercial farmers. Despite its disappearance, Rutgers continued to receive many requests for this tasty tomato and produced small batches throughout the years. And now, the first commercial lot of organically grown genuine Ramapo F1 hybrid seed is available through an effort by Rutgers NJAES.

Ramapo Tomato Seed Updates
and Order Form

"When we were kids my cousin the tomato lover would yell, "salt for my 'mater!" and he would stand with salt shaker in one hand, Jersey Tomato in the other and chow down. He still loves tomatoes, so when we visit him in the summertime, we come bearing gifts: Jersey Tomatoes".

- Cindy, Highland Park

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What's in Season from the Garden State - October 14, 2009 (448K PDF)
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New Jersey farmers grow some of the best produce in the country. But these juicy tomatoes and peaches, sweet corn and melons and plump blueberries don't always get into the groceries and restaurants where you shop and eat.

People across the US are realizing the benefits of buying locally produced food. New Jersey has been on the forefront of this effort, developing the Jersey Fresh campaign in 1984. Initiated by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, the movement has gained momentum as farmers, consumers, food distributors, chefs, etc. have joined the effort. At Rutgers NJAES we are working with these groups to enhance the farm to fork efforts in New Jersey.

The Jersey Tomato is known for its classic flavor. But tomatoes these days don't meet people's expectations when it comes to flavor. We're working on bringing the flavor back.
What's in Season from the Garden State is a biweekly e-newsletter during the growing season that highlights the little known facts about the food coming from our farms and local waters.
To help raise consumer awareness about New Jersey produce and get it into new retail locations, Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension piloted an innovative produce distribution and merchandising project in 2004. Chefs at restaurants in the Princeton and New Brunswick areas, several New Jersey distributors and grocery chains, Wegmans and Shop Rite, agreed to carry produce from our participating New Jersey growers. The farmers were supported through innovative marketing efforts - including this web site.