Famous New Jersey Food

New Jersey is widely known for it's variety of food and farm products with a special flavor that continues to be enjoyed by both current and former residents and visitors alike.

Being a small state with a big appetite for food, it is not surprising that there are many recipe preparations and ingredients that have emerged over time in this state.

New Jersey, also called the Garden State, does not come by this name by accident, having established a prized reputation for it's blueberries, tomatoes, corn, cranberries, and peaches.

Because of the limited land available for farm production, New Jersey farms are generally small family run operations with a niche for higher quality, tastier, more costly cultivation methods than the large commercial farms in other states. Most New Jersey farms sell their produce within the state and/or directly to the consumer in their road side stands.
These are the foods that are enjoyed by New Jersey residents and are either widely available or are known for their exceptional quality or taste. These are also the foods that ex-Jerseyans who have moved outside the state are no longer able to obtain and have a nostalgic longing for.

New Jersey's Most Famous Food

Bagels - The origin of bagels in the United States began when the Eastern European Jewish immigrants in New York and New Jersey created the Bagel Bakers Union between 1910 and 1915 in 36 union bagel shops in New York City and New Jersey. A good bagel should be a rich tan color, and should be crispy and crunchy. A bagel should be eaten fresh out of the oven, warm and, ideally, should be no more than four or five hours old.

"Hoagie", "Hero" or Sub" - Learn why the most popular sandwich in New Jersey is the Italian sandwich, although it's not called the Italian sandwich, depending on what part of the state you live in, it is called the Hoagie, Hero, or Sub.

Jersey Blueberries - The Official State Fruit of New Jersey, the New Jersey grown blueberry ranks first as the largest producer, and second in the country in acres harvested. While New Jersey blueberries are loved for their taste and freshness, they are also sought after to make delicious pancakes and cobblers.

Jersey Peaches - Jersey peaches are extremely tasty and succulent and sought after because they can be left to ripen on the tree longer than those farmed in other areas of the country. As with other Jersey grown crops, many of these peach farms have pick your own crops and roadside stands that bring just picked, fresh peaches directly to the consumer. New Jersey ranks 4th in the U.S. in the production of peaches. Harvesting is done by hand, usually starting in mid July for early cultivars, and continuing through September for late cultivars.

Jersey Pizza - New Jersey is fortunate to be among the few states with an abundance of excellent Pizza restaurants. With a large Italian population and bordered by New York on the northeast and Philadelphia on the south west, both cities with large Italian populations, New Jersey lies in the heart of what is affectionately known as the "Pizza Belt”.

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Jersey Tomatoes - As a result of not having to compete with the large commercial farms in other states who cultivate tasteless tomatoes by picking them green to withstand long periods of transport and storage, New Jersey farmers are able to cultivate varieties of that are stake grown to protect it from soil borne diseases, and picked when soft and vine ripened for immediate sale to the local markets and farm stands for the enjoyment of New Jersey consumers. If you are looking for that great New Jersey tomato taste, you can either go to a local farm market in New Jersey or grow your own. The season for purchasing or growing ripened tomatoes is mid-July to the end of September.

Salt Water Taffy - Salt water taffy is a soft taffy that originated and sold in Atlantic City, beginning in the late 19th century. Whatever the origins, Joseph Fralinger is credited with popularizing the taffy by boxing it and selling it as an Atlantic City souvenir. Salt water taffy is sold widely on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, and other Jersey Shore boardwalk and beach front towns.

Sweet White Corn - Sweet Corn is a delicacy found at the many farm stands that spring up every year along the highways and back roads of North Jersey. The extra sweet taste comes from the sweet corn varieties grown on New Jersey's small farms that do not turn the sugar into starch during growth. Unlike most of the other states with large commercial farms that grow yellow dent corn for livestock or for commercial sale, they produce a corn with a high starch content and little sweetness. Sweet corn needs a fertile, well-drained, moist soil. New Jersey's clay loam is ideal for sweet corn. Farm stands selling fresh sweet corn can be found through out the state during the season, beginning around July first and continuing up to early October.

Taylor Pork Roll or Ham - Taylor ham is the common name for pork roll, a food developed by John Taylor of Trenton, NJ. The pork roll is a sausage-like meat product available in and around New Jersey. In North Jersey it is usually called Taylor Ham and in South Jersey it's generally called the Pork roll. It's generally eaten sliced and grilled, like Canadian bacon as part of a breakfast sandwich on a hard roll and usually with egg and cheese.

Hot Dogs - There is strong evidence that New Jersey can claim it is the "hot dog capital of the world". If not all of New Jersey, than certainly northeast New Jersey which has claim to the origin of several popular versions of the hot dog and home to some of the top hot dog manufactures in the country.

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