Our state's tomatoes are nationally recognized as being among the best in the world. To pay homage to the great work being done in our state and to promote local agriculture, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture honors those who have excelled in providing Jersey Fresh produce to school children in our state. They are the Top Tomatoes in the Jersey Fresh Farm to School Program!
Farm to School week and month are a great opportunity to celebrate and highlight the abundance of fresh produce grown so close to where we live and teach children the health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables. I applaud the current and future efforts to partner with local farmers to offer the freshest, highest quality produce in school meals and as snacks. The Department looks forward to honoring more Top Tomatoes. Please check back to see who they are.
Margaret Zelenka, Science Teacher, Memorial High School, West New York, NJ
Toni Bowman, Director of Nutrition Services for Pomptonian
Cindy Sue Schaller, Monroe School District Food Service Director
Janet Celi
Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Coordinator
NJ Deptartment of Agriculture
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Arlethia Brown, Camden School District
Sofia and Adrian Carlisi
NJ Farm to School Volunteer Ambassador Program Creators
Karyn Moskowitz
Community Food Connection
Bridgette Byrd
FoodCorps AmeriCorps Service Member
Deborah Fisher, Lead of Sussex County Child Health Crisis Workgroup
Leevon Cogdill, Upper Pittsgrove Educator & "AG"venture Club Advisor
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Greater Bergen Community Action
Greater Newark Conservancy
Greater Newark Conservancy
Academy360 Chef Mike Matthews
Carolyn Taylor
Program Director
Learning Through Gardening​
NJ Agricultural Society
Naomi Montalvo
Pre-K Teacher
School Garden Coordinator
Jose Julian Marti School 28
Elizabeth, NJ
Frank Ferrucci
Organic Farmer
Cecil Creek Farm
Gloucester County, NJ
Beth Feehan and Chris Cirkus
Farm to School Champions
NJ Department of Agriculture
Food and Nutrition Division
Laura Englemann, Community Health and Wellness Manager, AtlantiCare
Warren Deshields, Director of Food Services for Bridgeton Public Schools & School Nutrition Association’s Northeast Region Director
Terhune Orchards, Mercer County
The Mount Family-Gary, Pam, Tannwen and Reuwai
2018 NJDA Farm to School Farmer Recognition Award Winners
Manjari Kapoor, Math & Science Coach and Supervisor of Curriculum & Instruction, Newark Educators’ Community Charter School (NECCS)
Hayley Klein, FoodCorps New Jersey Program Coordinator
Ann Degnan, Long Branch Public Schools, Facilities Manager.
Princeton School Gardens Cooperative board members, from left: Eddie Cohen, Karla Cook, Linda Twining, Fran McManus (chair), and Jeff Gradone.
Bianca Aniski, MEd, RN,
School Nurse at the Ethel A. Jacobsen Elementary School
Joe Njoroge, Food Bank of South Jersey
Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer
Jennifer Salt, MS, RD, CHES
Nutrition and Food Service Manager
Principal
Hopewell Elementary School
Hopewell, NJ
Superintendent
Black Horse Pike
Regional School District
Camden County, NJ
5th Generation Farmer
Cassaday Farms
Monroeville, NJ
School Garden Coordinator
Special Education Teacher
Dorothy L. Bullock Elementary School
Glassboro, NJ
Frank Mentesana
Director of EcoSpaces Education
Philip's Academy Charter School
Newark, NJ
Sal Valenza
NuWay Concessionaires
West New York Food Service Director
NJ School Nutrition Association President
Douglas Fisher
New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture
Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 330, Trenton, NJ 08625
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