We’re coming up on the fifth anniversary of that infamous 2017 gubernatorial debate when Phil Murphy – asked “what is your favorite New Jersey fruit and vegetable” – responded grapefruit and broccoli.
The Garden State is known for its blueberries, cranberries, tomatoes and corn. Grapefruit? The popular citrus fruit for well-heeled brunchers isn’t grown here, at least not in any commercially significant quantity. It was one of the early, tangible examples of how out-of-touch our then-future governor really is.
Well, we’ve got more rough news for Phil (who’s raising money with Joe Biden while Florida treads water):
Grapefruit prices were already up by double-digits this year owing to rampant supermarkets inflation. Now the landfall of devastating Hurricane Ian is sending citrus prices soaring; Florida is the nation’s leading producer of citrus fruit overall and responsible for more than 40% of the nation’s grapefruit production, but a majority of the state’s production capacity lies within Ian’s wind and flood zone over the next 48 hours.
Governor Murphy’s opulent imported caviar, poached egg, and sliced grapefruit breakfasts aren’t getting cheaper anytime soon.
