If you live in New Jersey, or anywhere near it, you know the taste of the famous Jersey tomato! It's nearly as famous as our cranberries, blueberries and, my July favorite, Jersey corn. 
Well, at some point in the future, those Jersey tomatoes might be taught to make anti-viral drugs when eaten! A researcher at the Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, has received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to continue testing on a bio-engineered tomato to do just that.
This was one of 81 $100,000 grants awarded by the computer giant's Foundation funding 'out of the box' medical research. Other grants include a magnet that can detect malaria in human blood and tiny head colds for mosquitoes to keep these disease carrying critters away from humans!
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation also plans to donate $73 million to help farmers in impoverished countries. This foundation is the largest philanthropic foundation in the world, giving more than $2.8 billion last year.
And I didn't think Jersey tomatoes could get any better!
Laura Giannotta
609-384-6121
Laura@JerseyShoreViews.com
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Little Egg Harbor REALTOR® Laura Giannotta
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609.384.6121
www.JerseyShoreViews.com
Laura@JerseyShoreViews.com
Thanks for an interesting post. I have read that lycopene found in tomatoes has health benefits.
Good news. I hope they get somewhere with the research. Just don't grow the Tomatoes near the Meadowlands :-)
No better summer lunch than a garden fresh tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil and olive oil. Heaven!
Hi Laura:
We DO love our Jersey tomatoes!
Makes everything tastes much better, than with the oridinary tomatoes.
Laura,
I just don't want to taste-test the first few. Our tomatoes rock now!
Growing up we aited for the Jersey beefsteaks to hit the markets. That along with Long Island Potatoes where things we loved. Nice memory
Now that sounds like one great tomato. How are they going to improve the Jersey Devil?
Laura, Nothing better than a fresh picked tomato with lunch or dinner. I'm not sure whether they should be messing with a good thing. Rich
Yum, I love tomatoes. I'm not sure I've tried the Jersey tomato. I'll put it on my list. We grow fresh tomatoes every year.
I can't wait until my tomatoes are ready to pick~ I haven't even planted them yet!
Great news. I love that we are talking about Summer fruits.
With all the bashing Bill Gates and Microsoft gets in the press, one thing you can't take away from him is the fact that he's always given back to the community.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has done some wonderful things.
And now anti-viral Jersey tomatoes!!!
I wonsder if I could get one of those grants to pursue grow a Bloody Mary on the vine!
Hi Laura
I love Jersey tomato's there are none better.
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
I think Bill is onto something here. Happy tomatoes for everyone
Pretty amazing - I don't think the Gates get enough credit for the things they do.....:-)
And here I thought a tomato was a tomato unless you spelled it tomotoe!
Thanks all for stopping by! I think we should begin our grant writing and take William Feela up on his plan for the Bloody Mary tomato! Have a great day!
I think there's a lot that can be done to make more food and drugs for an overpopulated world.
Dear Laura,
I have not had a Jersey tomato, however I can say that a homegrown tomato is better than ANYTHING from the store! Thanks for the post!
Betina
I don't know about Jersey tomatoes, but I was at the grocery store yesterday and all I could find, were tomatoes from the USA.
I like William's idea too. I wonder if we can all get a grant for that. :)