PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, June 10, 2008
For more information contact Michelle Casella, Agricultural Agent 856-307-6450 ext. 1.,
Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Cooperative Extension, http://njaes.rutgers.edu.
Tomato Recall: Another Reason to Buy Local
By Michelle Casella, Agricultural Agent
Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station
Cooperative Extension
Tomato field in Woolwich Township taken on June 10, 2008.
Photo by Michelle Casella
(Clayton.NJ) Besides buying local food to reduce excessive energy use related to shipping foods
great distances we now have another reason to source local products that may not fit into the
“Going Green” phenomenon. With the concern over the salmonellosis outbreak in some fresh
plum and round tomatoes (possibly shipped and maybe produced out of the south western part of
North America) consumers should be more convinced than ever to buy local produce, especially
New Jersey tomatoes. Tomatoes are a staple in the American diet. Tomatoes have become the
most important vegetable crop in the U.S. behind the potato. Our society recognizes important
nutrients that tomatoes provide, such as lycopene. Lycopene provides health benefits related to
prostrate, bone, and skin health. Besides, vine-ripened, red, juicy tomatoes just taste good. Prime
“Jersey Tomato” season is just a few of weeks away and consumers need to demand local
tomatoes from retailers.
Farmers in the State of New Jersey want you to know they are ready to provide you with quality
tomatoes this summer. New Jersey tomato grower Andy Redkoles notes, “I have been growing
tomatoes for 77 years and have never had a problem with them”. Mr. Redkoles will be harvesting
his crop in less than 2 weeks. He markets wholesale tomatoes to the Philadelphia Terminal
Produce Market and the Swedesboro Auction, Inc. The Swedesboro Auction generally offers the
first wholesale “Jersey Fresh” tomatoes in the State. Contact, Market Manager, Kathy Morris at
856-467-0313 for more information. Additionally, sales through the Vineland Produce Auction
will begin soon, see http://vinelandproduce.com.
Andy Redkoles of Logan Township, Gloucester
County, NJ looks forward to tomato season this year
and hopes consumers will be well educated about
buying local product. Photo by Michelle Casella
Local tomato growers are family farms, not corporate farms, and produce tomatoes under the
watchful eye of the owner/farmer. They take care and pride in producing a quality product for
their own families and yours. Sam and Joe Maugeri of Maugeri Farms (a family farm since
1928) in Woolwich Township, Gloucester County, NJ grow and ship around 65,000 boxes of
tomatoes each year to broker/distributors of local produce that ultimately may end up on
supermarket shelves. Joseph Maugeri says, “With the uncertain safety of imported or out-of-state
tomatoes this year, we hope to have an excellent sales year with our local grown product that is
not included in the FDA recall”. Maugeri Farms also has a retail market at the farm for
customers to purchase tomatoes and other Jersey Fresh produce. For more information about this
farm see http://www.maugerifarms.com/.
Joseph Maugeri, of Maugeri Farms checks his tomato crop that will be
ready for harvest in a couple of weeks. Photo by Michelle Casella
For more information from the FDA on this issue see http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes
FDA recognizes that the source of the contaminated tomatoes may be limited to a single grower
or packer or tomatoes from a specific geographic area. FDA also recognizes that there are many
tomato crops that are just becoming ready for harvest or will become ready in the coming
months. The tomatoes that will be harvested soon in New Jersey are not affected by the recall.
To be sure tomatoes are produced locally demand to see the box in which they were shipped. The
box should have the farms name and location on the side. You can also visit your local farm
markets and buy directly from the farmer. To find a listing of New Jersey tomato farms and other
crops produced in the state go to the New Jersey Farm Bureau’s web site at http://njfb.org and
click on the Produce Directory tab. For information on buying local and other farm related topics
go to http://njfarmfresh.rutgers.edu/consumers.asp. Demand local and buy local; it benefits
everyone.