2010 NACAA PRIDE Award Winner: THE GREAT TOMATO TASTING by Nick Polanin Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension of Somerset County.

1. THE GREAT TOMATO TASTING 2010 NATIONAL PRIDE AWARD WINNER Nick Polanin Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension of Somerset County

4. Starting from Scratch

5. Field Labor and Research Farm Support

6. Variety Trials at Snyder Farm

8. Rutgers Master Gardener Volunteers

9. Variety of Heirloom and Hybrid Tomatoes

10. Peaches, Apples, and Basils, Oh My!

11. Meet and Greet and Gift the Public!

12. … The Crowds Just Keep Coming…

13. … And Coming…

14. … and 1,700 attended in 2009!

15. Snyder Teaching Garden

16. Basil and Tomato Tasting Surveys

17. But which is your favorite?!

18. Guided Tours of Research Plots

19. Information and Registration Tents

20. Survey Said… Responses to the online survey (n = 240, a 35.9% response rate from the 668 surveyed) – strongly agreed or agreed: • 91.1 % - more likely to favor community initiatives aimed at preserving and strengthening agriculture in NJ • 85.7 % - more likely to purchase 'Jersey Fresh' tomatoes, peaches, apples and other produce. • 79.4 % - more likely to purchase tomatoes, peaches, apples and other produce at local farm markets and roadside stands. • 90.08 % - that the Rutgers Snyder Research Farm and Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension faculty, staff, and Master Gardener volunteers provided timely and useful food and agricultural information.

22. NATIONAL PRIDE AWARD Thanks to the NACAA, the United Soybean Board, and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association! “ I was SO impressed by everything that went on at the event. My husband and I want to return in 2010 and bring family and friends, it was that educational AND fun. And, in addition to improving our tomato knowledge, I was thrilled to discover the pillar peach trees and am now seeking the Crimson Rockets to add to my apple trees.”