New Jersey Tomato Trial of 1820: How One Man Proved that the "Love Apple" was Safe to Eat
The Salem County Courthouse in Salem, New Jersey, was built in 1735. It is the oldest continually operating courthouse in New Jersey and the second oldest in all of the United States. In 1774 the Salem County Courthouse was the site of a petition denouncing King George III on behalf of the colonists of New Jersey for unfair and unlawful taxation. On September 26, 1820 on the steps of that same red brick historic courthouse the tomato stood trial before a crowd of upwards of 2000 spectators all of whom had gathered that day believing that they might see a well known local celebrity and somewhat eccentric man drop dead. Standing atop the steps that morning, with a wicker basket full of tomatoes at his feet, is Salem farmer, historian, horticulturist, judge and former soldier, Robert Gibbon Johnson, known affectionately at the time as Colonel Johnson for his past military service to the residents of Salem. Earlier in the week Robert Gibbon Johnson had announced t...