Food & Gourmet Items

Item Description

50 Pounds of Yountville-grown San Marzano tomatoes delivered to you at the peak of the season.

Use for canning, freezing, or fresh for your salsas, soups, stews and sauces.

Description/Taste
San Marzano tomatoes are small with an elongated and thin, oval shape, similar in appearance to a Roma tomato, but with a pointed tip. The skin is smooth, dark red, easy-to-peel, and taut with a slight give when pressed. Underneath the skin, the flesh is thick, dense, and bright red with a semi-firm consistency. Within the flesh, there are also only two seed chambers filled with a few small seeds, which is unique from other varieties that typically contain four to five chambers. San Marzano tomatoes have a low-moisture content with a mild acidity, creating a sweet, rich, and complex, jammy flavor.

Facts
San Marzano tomatoes, botanically classified as Solanum Lycopersicum, are an Italian, plum-tomato variety belonging to the Solanaceae or nightshade family. The elongated, fleshy fruits are named after San Marzano Sul Sarno, the town in Italy where they were first grown, and are celebrated by top chefs as one of the best tomatoes used for sauces. The variety has received so much recognition for its rich flavor, that similar to French Champagne, a Protected Designation of Origin, or DOP, was given in 1996 to San Marzano tomatoes grown under strict regulations. Valle del Sarno is the valley in Italy where the recognized and protected variety is grown, distinguished by its soil and a temperate climate that combine to give the San Marzano its distinctive richness and deep flavor. San Marzano tomatoes are also typically harvested by hand and are known as a paste, pear, processing, saladette, or sauce tomato. Although certified San Marzano tomatoes only come from Italy, San Marzano tomatoes are grown in other regions of the world, including the United States, and are marketed without the DOP labeling.

Nutritional Value
San Marzano tomatoes are an excellent source of vitamins A and C, which are antioxidants that can help strengthen the immune system and increase collagen production within the body. The tomatoes also provide some fiber, potassium, and folate, and are known for containing the antioxidant compound lycopene, which gives the flesh its red hue and helps the body fight against free radicals.

Cooking Applications
San Marzano tomatoes are ideal for making sauces due to their elongated shape, minimal seeds, firm flesh, and lower juice content. The sweet and mild variety can be roasted or cooked on the stovetop for use in pasta, pizzas, lasagnas, or ragus. It can also be used fresh for sandwiches, bruschetta, and salads, sliced thin and baked into a savory tart, or drizzled with olive oil and roasted. Beyond fresh applications, San Marzano tomatoes are famously canned and develop a soft texture when preserved. It is important to note that authentic and certified, canned San Marzano tomatoes are found peeled and are in whole or fillet form, not diced. In addition to canning, San Marzano tomatoes can also be dried and ground into a powder or made into a tomato paste for extended use. San Marzano tomatoes pair well with herbs such as basil, parsley, and oregano; cheeses such as mozzarella and goat; rich meats such a beef, veal, or pork; and garlic, onions, and balsamic vinegar. Once ripe, San Marzano tomatoes will keep 2-3 days at room temperature. Cooked or sliced fresh tomatoes should be stored in a sealed container and kept in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Item Special Note

Notes: Deliver in Napa or Sonoma counties during the peak of tomato season. Winning bidder to arrange delivery date and location with donor.

Local delivery or pickup only in Napa, CA. Winning bidders may pick up their items in Napa at a location and date to be arranged -- details will be emailed to winning bidders. Items not picked up by March 5, 2021 will be mailed to the winning bidder, and purchaser is responsible for shipping and insurance costs. (Note that we will automatically mail gift cards and gift certificates for free -- no need to pick those up.) Stone Bridge School and SBS Parent Council are not responsible for items lost or damaged during shipping.

Stone Bridge School and SBS Parent Council are not responsible for items that become unusable as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. In the event that an auction item (e.g., event tickets) becomes unusable, please contact the organization offering that item to inquire about extending expiration dates or otherwise honoring the value of the item.