Erin Lanahan 
The official New Jersey state vegetable is the tomato, but maybe we should consider changing it to the eggplant. That’s because New Jersey is consistently one of the leading eggplant-producing states in the country. Millions of pounds of eggplant are produced in the Garden State each year, even making their way from local farms to your plate at your favorite Italian restaurants. Read on to learn about eggplant production in the state and how prevalent the local vegetable is in our corner of New Jersey.
Eggplant Production In NJ
The Garden State is known for all of the produce grown by local farms all over the state, from Sussex to Gloucester counties, and so many in between. New Jersey has consistently been a top producer of the purple vegetable in the USA. In the latest Census for Agriculture released in 2022, 342 farms grew and harvested eggplants across 785 acres in New Jersey. The other top leaders for domestic eggplant production were California with 894 acres, Georgia with 805 acres, and Florida with 753 acres. In 2024, the state ranked third in eggplant production in the country. In several prior years, New Jersey has been the number one producer of eggplants in the US.
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Eggplant is a warm-season crop, growing best at temperatures between 70-85°F. Because they need well-drained, sandy-loam soil to grow, the Garden State has some of the perfect conditions for this plant. Per Jersey Fresh, a division of the state’s Department of Agriculture, New Jersey is a national top ten producer of fruit and vegetables, including bell peppers, squash, peaches, and cranberries, of which NJ is the fourth largest producer. Nearly 15 million pounds of eggplants were grown in New Jersey, per Jersey Fresh.
Eggplant Lore In New Jersey
An Eggplant Parmigiana, either served over pasta or on a sub, is quite common in our Jersey Italian restaurants. The classic Italian dish features layers of breaded, fried, or baked eggplant slices, tomato sauce, and plenty of melted cheeses, baked until golden. HG has done the work over the years and put together a tasty collection of where to get excellent eggplant parms in the Hoboken + Jersey City area.
A semi-famous solution for inducing labor with food can be found at Leo’s Grandevous. Established in 1939, Leo’s is the oldest restaurant in Hoboken, featuring a menu of classic Italian dishes. Leo’s granddaughter, Grace Sciancalepore, spoke with The Hoboken Girl recently about the history of the restaurant, along with the lore about their famous eggplant dish. The local legend has it that the eggplant fra diavolo induces labor, but mothers-to-be have to be at or past their due date. It’s happened enough that Grace says they have onesies made that say “I’m a Leo’s Eggplant Baby,” for families.
Another local favorite is the eggplant at The Belmont Tavern in Belleville. The menu is small but full of big flavors, and the eggplant dish is not to be missed.
Otto Strada on Park Avenue in Hoboken is another local favorite. The BYOB restaurant has several dishes featuring eggplant on the menu. There’s the whipped ricotta + eggplant caponata crostini, “THE SIGI” Sicilian eggplant + stracciatella pie, and melanzane alla parmigiana “IL MATTONE.”
The eggplant parm from Mike’s Pasta Shop in Nutley.
Plus, from Mike’s Pasta Shoppe in Nutley, Mike’s Fried Eggplant sub, made with ricotta, arugula, tomato jam, and some oil and vinegar, comes highly recommended. The Montclair Girl compiled a list of plenty of other great Italian spots to try in the Montclair area.
See More: Sparo’s Deli + Catering: Meet The Duo Behind This Italian-American Deli
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