Passata, the Italians' favourite. This thick sauce is made from pureed tomatoes that have been stripped of seeds and skins. The organic tomatoes grow on Gargano, a mountainous peninsula in the province of Foggia, also known as the 'spur' on the Italian boot.

Passata is a good base for soups and traditional sauces, due to its sweet and creamy texture. Aside from the sultry Italian sun, the only ingredients are fresh water and a pinch of salt. Tomatoes are rich in minerals and vitamins A and C, and have high levels of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. 

Did you know that this Queen of Passatas contains no less than 69% more lycopene than other passatas?

THE PRODUCER:

BioOrto is an Italian family business, founded in 2003 by Nino Passalacqua. His grandparents Giulia and Pietro left their lives in the 1950s in the Abruzzi Mountains, where they travelled as nomads with their cattle. They settled in Tavoliere delle Puglie in order to practise farming on the low-lying pastures. Meanwhile, the Passalacqua family has over 500 hectares in northern Apulia, at the foot of the Gargano National Park. The special Mediterranean microclimate, with mineral water filtered through the mainland, makes the soil rich and fertile.

Meanwhile, the children of Nino Passalacqua take care of the company: Giulia and her husband Mirko and Tiziano and Nino Jr. Organic vegetables that are typical of the region, including organic tomatoes, are grown there. Bio Orto produces delicious Italian tomato specialties, including tomatoes passata, hand peeled tomatoes and various tomato sauces including basil or chilli. The tomatoes are harvested and selected by hand. If necessary, they are dried under the Mediterranean sun and marinated in extra virgin olive oil (such as the sun-dried tomatoes). This superior quality olive oil is also produced by Bio Orto itself