2nd Annual New Jersey Tomato Festival, Auguest 21, 2005
Camden Waterfront, Wiggins Park, Camden, New Jersey

It was sunny and hot, approximately 90 degrees and no shade. A cool
breeze off the Delaware river every so often provided temporary cooling
relief.

The riverside stage had live bands and most of the talent was excellent.
Rock 'n' Roll, Blues, etc. Some dance groups from some surrounding
schools did a fine job. Considering the fact that they were dancing in
that heat for 5 minutes at a time, I'd call them champs.

The "Tomato Festival" was really a general food fest with BBQ, pizza,
salads and wine tasting. Four tents of wine tasting and nobody was
drinking wine, probably because of the heat.

Alot of open-air tents were only selling water, lemonade and juices.
Probably more of them than any other offerings and none doing well in
sales.

Some open-air tents were selling paintings and typical flea market bric-
a-brac.

One tent was for food demonstrations. There was a local TV chef doing a
presentation but the P.A. system stunk it was hot and there was no
lighting. Oh well, what's a mother to do?

There was one tent selling fresh farm produce which is where I got my
fill of Jersey Fresh tomatoes. I eat them like apples. YUM!

The other tents were sponsors of the event. I don't know what the tent
with the GIANT Shrek 4-D was all about.

The "Main Event" was a World Championship Pizza Eating contest. The
biggest star in attendance was Cookie Jarvis. He is large man. He had a
do-rag and wore a mu-mu, which had a list of his world records
embroidered in gold letters on the back of it, from the neck, down to
his knees representing probably 30 or so world records.

The MC was great! Flamboyant, funny and a great orator! 45 minutes of
introductions and 10 minutes of pizza competition.

It was a 10 minute all you could eat contest. The winner was, again,
Cookie Jarvis who ate 2 large cheese pizzes and three bites of from a
3rd pizza. All I can say from witnessing it was IT WAS DISGUSTING!!!

Attendance was probably 1,000 during my stay. Aside from the T-shirts
commemorating the event, you'd think you simply walked into a
food/wine/crafts fair.

I came home with two tomato stress relievers (hand-squeezers) and a
poster of the event signed by Cookie Jarvis.

Imho, I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't a 3rd Annual New Jersey
Tomato Festival.

Nevertheless, Jersey tomatoes are in season and plentiful. Look for the
"Jersey Fresh" sign at your favorite produce market for them!

All the best,

Andy

"Andy" <Q> wrote in message
...

> There was one tent selling fresh farm produce which is where I got my
> fill of Jersey Fresh tomatoes. I eat them like apples. YUM!

My late uncle in Berlin NJ used to grow the BEST tomatoes... most of the
time they made me retch but Uncle Owen had tomatoes you could eat like
candy.


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