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How we met
Tomato pasta is the world's most-loved second course. With this awareness, we set out to find a tomato that was, at minimum, of extraordinary quality. We wanted to find growers who had a strong ethic, capable of proving that in Italy it is possible to cultivate tomatoes while respecting both the environment and people.
That's how we met the Arestia family, who in Agromonte, near Ragusa, grow cherry and datterino tomatoes. But what makes Agromonte so special compared to other Sicilian growers?
Commitment to Quality and Nature
The main feature that sets Agromonte apart is care. Seeds are selected with specialized machinery, the plants are transplanted and always harvested by hand, and pollination occurs naturally through bumblebees, a species left free to fly around the greenhouses. This attention to biodiversity has made Agromonte a haven for bumblebees, a species that has faced a drastic decline in recent years, reminding us how essential it is to protect even the smallest organisms.
But the true strength of Agromonte also lies in respecting seasonality. The Arestia family harvests the tomatoes only once a year, from June to early September, when the fruits are at the peak of their flavor and ripeness. This not only guarantees a product of the highest quality, but also respects the natural rhythm of the plants and reduces the environmental impact. In fact, harvesting only during the right season helps reduce CO2 emissions from transportation and lowers the use of resources that would otherwise be consumed to grow out of season.
Tradition and simplicity in the product
The sauce we obtain from Agromonte is the result of traditional processing, handed down from the matriarch of the Arestia family to her grandchildren. It is simplicity made into sauce: no preservatives, no additives. The sauce is natural, genuine, just as the Arestia family has been preparing it for generations. It is delicious, and it is naturally so.
Agromonte provides us with both tomato sauce, made from the cherry tomatoes we keep in store, and cherry tomatoes preserved in olive oil, which we use in our kitchens. Each product is a tangible step toward preserving biodiversity and a proof that it is possible to grow tomatoes in a sustainable way, respecting the environment and seasonality.
What we love about them
What we value most about Agromonte is their commitment to sustainability. Their products are 100% seasonal, which means they are harvested only at the right time of year, respecting the natural cycles of the plants. Additionally, they protect biodiversity by cultivating two varieties of cherry tomatoes: the ciliegino and the datterino. The tomatoes are naturally pollinated thanks to bumblebees, without resorting to invasive or environmentally harmful methods.
If you want to personally discover the quality of their products, you can find them at Contrada Coffa s.n. - Zona Artigianale 97012 Chiaramonte Gulfi (RG).