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.

Cindy Sue Schaller

Cindy Sue Schaller, Monroe School District Food Service Director 

Janet Celi Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Coordinator

Janet Celi 

Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Coordinator 

NJ Deptartment of Agriculture 

Arlethia Brown of Camden School District and Team Members, Fall 2023

Arlethia Brown, Camden School District 

Adrian and Sofia Carlisi

Sofia and Adrian Carlisi 

NJ Farm to School Volunteer Ambassador Program Creators 

Top Tomato Spring 2023

Karyn Moskowitz 

Community Food Connection 

Top Tomato Winter 2022

Bridgette Byrd 

FoodCorps AmeriCorps Service Member 

Top Tomato Fall 2022

Deborah Fisher, Lead of Sussex County Child Health Crisis Workgroup

Top Tomato Summer 2022

Leevon Cogdill, Upper Pittsgrove Educator & "AG"venture Club Advisor 

Farm To School

Greater Bergen Community Action 

Farm To School

Greater Newark Conservancy 

Farm To School

Greater Newark Conservancy 

Farm To School

Academy360 Chef Mike Matthews

Carolyn Taylor

 Carolyn Taylor

Program Director

Learning Through Gardening​

NJ Agricultural Society

Naomi Montalvo is the 2020 Spring Top Tomato

Naomi Montalvo

Pre-K Teacher

School Garden Coordinator

Jose Julian Marti School 28

Elizabeth, NJ

Frank Ferrucci- Top Tomato Winter 2019

Frank Ferrucci

Organic Farmer

Cecil Creek Farm

Gloucester County, NJ

Beth Feehan & Chris Cirkus Top Tomatoes Fall 2019

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

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

Warren Deshields, Director of Food Services for Bridgeton Public Schools & School Nutrition Association’s Northeast Region Director

Terhune Orchards, The Mount Family, 2018 NJDA Farm to School Farmer Recognition Award Winners

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)

Manjari Kapoor, Math & Science Coach and Supervisor of Curriculum & Instruction, Newark Educators’ Community Charter School (NECCS)

Hayley Klein, FoodCorps New Jersey Program Coordinator

Hayley Klein, FoodCorps New Jersey Program Coordinator

Ann Degnan, Long Branch Public Schools, Facilities Manager.

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.

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

Bianca Aniski, MEd, RN,
School Nurse at the Ethel A. Jacobsen Elementary School

Joe Njoroge, COO/CFO - Food Bank of South Jersey

Joe Njoroge, Food Bank of South Jersey
Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer

Jennifer Salt, MS, RD, CHES

Jennifer Salt, MS, RD, CHES
Nutrition and Food Service Manager

David Friedrich

Principal
Hopewell Elementary School
Hopewell, NJ

Dr. Brian Repici

Superintendent
Black Horse Pike
Regional School District
Camden County, NJ

George Cassaday

5th Generation Farmer
Cassaday Farms
Monroeville, NJ

Sonya Harris

School Garden Coordinator
Special Education Teacher
Dorothy L. Bullock Elementary School
Glassboro, NJ

Frank Mentesana: photo

Frank Mentesana
Director of EcoSpaces Education
Philip's Academy Charter School
Newark, NJ

Sal Valenza : Photo

Sal Valenza
NuWay Concessionaires
West New York Food Service Director
NJ School Nutrition Association President

Douglas Fisher : Photo

Douglas Fisher
New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture

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