New Jersey’s Annual Peach Pie Competitions Wrap Up

Glassboro, NJ – New Jersey’s annual Peach Pie Competition for amateur bakers is now done.  Delicious pies and cobblers were enjoyed by farmers market judges and attendees who got to taste the entries once they were judged. 

Ten farmers markets held contests this year, and competition was fierce among entrants.  “Brigantine market had 13 good-looking pie and cobbler entries,” said market manager Christell Lauletta.  “Most bakers kindly opted to donate their pies that were thinly sliced and offered for a $1 donation.  We received $133 which will go to this year's charity, Reach Out and Read. “

West Windsor market manager, Chris Cirkus said, "The annual peach pie contest is a good 'ole slice of Americana!  Promoting our farms is what we do, and with this season's delicious peach crop, the timing for the contest was perfect!"

“Bravo to Chris’s sentiment,” said New Jersey Peach Promotion Council chair Santo John Maccherone, which sponsors the pie competitions.  “What better says ‘summer in America’ than a peach pie.”   The Peach Council is enthusiastic about them as vehicles to promote the state’s locally grown peaches and the farmers who grow them.  “Many of the growers who take their peaches to farmers markets say that the special peach days bring increased customers to the markets,” said Maccherone.    

Winners of these competitions will now go on for two final contests:  one in south Jersey; one in north Jersey, each with a grand prize of $300 cash from the Peach Promotion Council.

Finalists are (for their winning recipes, go to www.jerseypeaches.com/for consumers/recipes):

Hammonton Downtown Market / Winner: Sheila Amendolia 

Edison Farmers Market / Winner Sarah Deller

Ramsey Farmers Market / Winner Sosy Shishmanian 

Atlantic City Farmers Market / Winner not known

Downtown Wildwood Farmers' Market / Winner Joelle DuFault

Margate Farmers Market / Winner Sage and Hallee Adelman

Nutley Farmers Market / Winner Sophia Berma,

West Windsor Farmers Market / Winner Wendy Rosenthal

Brigantine / Carolyn Trusso

Jersey City Farms in the Heights/ Winner Krista Winters

For further information, go to www.jerseypeahes.com

The New Jersey Peach Promotion Council is a non-profit voluntary organization of growers, shippers, wholesalers and associated industries dedicated to maintaining a viable peach industry in the Garden State, preserving farmers and farmland; and providing the highest quality and best tasting fresh peaches for consumers. New Jersey is the third largest peach producing state in the country, with approximately 80 orchards on 4,700 acres. 

Source: The New Jersey Peach Promotion Council