A Remarkable Abundance

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The farm in the rich, sandy soils of New Jersey where I grew up was a big garden while requiring a great deal of hard work. One of the main crops was tomatoes. In the middle of the summer when the tomatoes were ripe, there was a solid row of large 5/8 bushell baskets filled to the brim with bright red tomatoes ready to be picked up and put in a truck. The baskets were stacked high on the truck and taken to Campbell Soup in Camden, New Jersey. There was often a remarkable abundance of tomatoes, producing many tons to the acre although unfortunately there were less fruitful years because of lack of rain or an infestation. I love the distinctive smell of tomato vines and the delicious taste of vine-ripened tomatoes.