N.J. Peach Festival 2002 Award Winners

Heritage Tree Fruit, LLP of Richwood, Gloucester County won the New Jersey Governors' Cup at the New Jersey Peach Festival. Secretary of Agriculture Charles Kuperus presented the cup to Penni and Bill Heritage, owners, for their box of 2.5-inch diameter peaches of the Jersey Fresh label. Also involved in the presentation were State Senator John Mattheussen, State Senator Steve Sweeney and Deputy Freeholder Director Bob Damminger.

Doug Zee, owner of Zee Orchards, also received a legislative commendation for his long service to the New Jersey Peach industry, and Marsha Gaventa and Chris Smith were commended for their years as Peach Festival coordinators. They also received a 1st place prize for their box of white-fleshed peaches. Other top prize winners were Santo John Maccheone, Circle M Farms, Mullica who was first in the Specialty Category for his yellow-fleshed nectarines under the Circle M Label, and Tom Holtzhauser, Holtzhauser Farms, of Mullica Hill who was first in the Select category for his hand-selected box of 2.5-inch diameter yellow-fleshed peaches under the Holtzhauser Farms label.

The complete list of winners is as follows:

Commercial Category

(half-bushel boxes of yellow fleshed peaches as they are packed in commercial packing houses for wholesale sales)

Class: 2.25 inches in diameter peaches

1st place: Zee Orchards, jerZee label, Richwood, N.J.
2nd place: Larchmont Farms, Jersey Fruit label, Elmer, N.J.
3rd place: Heilig Orchards, Jersey Fruit label, Richwood, N.J.

Class: 2.5 inches in diameter peaches

1st place: Heritage Tree Fruit, Jersey Fruit label, Richwood, N.J. (This box was also best of the Commercial category and the Best of Show (Governor's Cup Winner).)
2nd place: Fred Smith Orchards, Fred Smith label, Sewell, N.J.
3rd place: Tri Star Farms, Jersey Fruit label, Hammonton, N.J.

Class: 2.75 inches in diameter peaches

1st place: Garden State Fruit Farm, jerZee label, Richwood, N.J.
2nd place: A. L. Gaventa & Sons, Jersey Fruit label, Swedesboro, N.J.
3rd place: Heilig Orchards, Jersey Fruit label, Richwood, N.J.

Select Category

(half-bushel boxes of yellow fleshed peaches hand selected for the peach pack competition at the festival)

Class: 2.25 inches in diameter peaches

1st place: jerZee Orchards, jerZee label, Richwood, N.J.
2nd place: Donio Farms, TopCrop label, Hammonton, N.J.
3rd place: Holtzhauser Farms, Holtzhauser Farms label, Mullica Hill, N.J.

Class: 2.5 inches in diameter peaches

1st place: Holtzhauser Farms, Holtzhauser Farms label, Mullica Hill, N.J. (This box was also the best of the Select category.)
2nd place: Fred Smith Orchards, Fred Smith label, Sewell, N.J.
3rd place: Tri Star Farms, Jersey Fruit label, Hammonton, N.J.

Class: 2.75 inches in diameter peaches

1st place: Holtzhauser Farms, Holtzhauser Farms label, Mullica Hill, N.J.
2nd place: Donio Farms, TopCrop label, Hammonton, N.J.
3rd place: jerZee Orchards, jerZee Orchards label, Richwood, N.J.

Specialty Category

(half-bushel boxes of white-fleshed peaches and nectarines, yellow fleshed nectarines and the individual largest peaches in the competition)

Class: White-fleshed peaches and nectarines

1st place: Heritage Tree Fruit LLC., Jersey Fruit label, Richwood, N.J.
2nd place: Fred Smith Orchards, Fred Smith label, Sewell, N.J.
3rd place: Haynicz Bros Orchards, Haynicz Bros label, Monroeville, N.J.

Class: Yellow-fleshed nectarines

1st place: Circle M Farms, Circle M label, Mullica Hill, N.J. (This box was also the best in the Specialty category.)
2nd place: jerZee Orchards, jerZee label, Richwood, N.J.
3rd place: Larchmont Farms, Jersey Fruit label, Elmer, N.J.

Class: Largest peach by weight

1st place: Zee Orchards, Richwood, N.J.
2nd place: jerZee Orchard, Richwood, N.J.
3rd place: Garden State Fruit Farms, Richwood, N.J.

Each award winner received a ribbon and plaque. The best of each category also received a gift certificate to a restaurant for two.