The Salem County Clerk’s office is conducting a “Favorite Tomato Recipe Contest” to be concluded in March, 2008 when participants’ recipes will be submitted for tasting and judging by local professional cooks.  Salem County Clerk Gilda Gill will provide a $100 Cash Award and Certificate to the talented winner. A booklet of all recipes will be published and distributed at no cost to the public. 

The Jersey tomato is an important part of Salem County history with numerous farms, packing houses and industry generated by this local delicious vegetable.  The tomato is designated on the Salem County flag. A famous county story is told about Robert Gibbon Johnson eating the tomato in public in Salem when it was considered to be poisonous.

Salem County residents who have favorite tomato recipes are asked to submit them to Gilda T. Gill, Salem County Clerk at the County Courthouse no later than March 1, 2008.   All entries will be eligible for entry into the tasting and judging event held in late March, 2008. For further information, contact Gilda Gill at 935-7510, Ex. 8605.