Taylor Provisions is a leading producer of pork roll, based in Trenton, New Jersey. Its founder, John Taylor, is credited as the inventor of the pork roll,[1] originally calling it "Taylor's Prepared Ham." The nickname "Taylor Ham" has persisted despite no longer being designated as "ham" by the company.
Products
editTaylor Provisions Company produces pork-based products. The primary brand focuses on a processed pork originating in New Jersey called pork roll. Some pork roll "still comes in a sewn cloth wrapper, like a real sausage".[2]
Company history
editJohn Taylor is credited with creating his secret recipe for the product in 1856.[3]
John Taylor and his son William formed Taylor Provision Company in 1888. The company was regarded as "one of the most important of Trenton's commercial interests". By 1894, sales revenue was grossing $200,000.[4] Taylor originally released the product under the name "Taylor's Prepared Ham", but was forced to change the name after it failed to meet the new legal definition of "ham" established by the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906.[5][6][7] Other pork roll products with similar names started competing against Taylor. They were labelled as "Rolled Pork" or "Trenton style Pork Roll".[1][8]
The company peaked its Jersey Shore operations during the 1950s owning "eight sandwich shops, including three in Atlantic City, two in Cape May and one each at Wildwood, Seaside and Asbury Park. The last shop standing was the one in Cape May that closed when the operator retired in the early 1980s". The company operates on Perrine Avenue in Trenton, New Jersey.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b Schnitzspahn, Karen L. (2012). Jersey Shore Food History: Victorian Feasts to Boardwalk Treats. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press. ISBN 978-1-61423-727-3. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
- ^ Bryson, Lew; Haynie, Mark (2008). New Jersey Breweries. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. pp. 108–109. ISBN 978-0-8117-3504-9. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
- ^ "The results of our great pork roll vs. Taylor ham battle divide N.J." nj.com. June 1, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
- ^ Lee, Francis Bazley (1895). History of Trenton, New Jersey: The Record of Its Early Settlement and Corporate Progress. Trenton, New Jersey: J. L. Murphy. p. 312. OCLC 1046583639. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
- ^ Rojas, Christina (May 12, 2016). "Salty pork roll vs. Taylor Ham debate may rest in politicians' hands". NJ.com.
- ^ Correa, Cynthia (July 16, 2015). "All About Pork Roll, New Jersey's Own Cheap Eat". Eater.
- ^ "The History of Pork Roll". Middlesex, New Jersey: Jersey Pork Roll. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
- ^ a b Barth, Linda J. (2018). New Jersey Originals: Technological Marvels, Odd Inventions, Trailblazing Characters and More. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press. p. 45. ISBN 978-1-4671-3926-7. Retrieved 2018-12-10.