I’m looking for information on the origins of Jersey Breeze tomato. Is it an heirloom? Bred by ??

Last year I got seeds from Hudson Valley Seed Co.(Accord,NY), and it looks like it was previously available from Sundial Seed Co. (Willits, ÇA, which appeared to be in business only 2019-21). I sent an email to HV and it wasn’t answered.

The tomato is a medium red that was fairly productive all summer, in a bed where old reliables such as Pruden’s Purple and Polaris were not. Looked exactly like Bush Early Girl.

I’m thinking of offering it at our master gardener seedling sale for those who are looking for a basic red OP indeterminate tomato, but I like to include some information on history/provenance for the varieties we sell.

Here's what I've found. At about 19 minutes in, Steve Peters says that Jersey Breeze "came out of a Rutgers program many years ago."



(the video is from the 2022 Culinary Breeding Network's California Variety Showcase Day 2)

However, he shows and describes a pleated tomato. The tomatoes I grew were fairly smooth on top, maybe with a hint of pleating. But the fruits were all unblemished and, as he says, all would have been marketable. I wonder if the Hudson Valley seeds were selected to be less pleated? But I grew only one plant, so perhaps it was natural genetic variability.

Elly Bunny Hop Seeds says this about her tomatoes whose seed came from Hudson Valley Seed Co, " was a little puzzled, as my fruits were rather more scalloped, not as salad-perfect-smooth, as shown in the vendor’s photo. The texture and shelf-life were great for an all-purpose medium to medium-small tomato. The flavor was strong but balanced, perhaps not as sugar sweet as some, but still excellent for fresh eating. I would recommend this variety for growing in “difficult” climates." It seems that she has nothing further to add to it's history.