San Marzano

[BartRicci]

What makes these certified? I thought only the consortium in Italy can certify San Marzano tomatoes.

And why are they labels printed in the United States and not in Italy?

This seems like fraud to me.

[GianniFocaccia]

"Certified" implies a third party inspected and approved a product or process by virtue of it meeting a predetermined standard. Unless the actual standard is referenced, the word Certified means essentially nothing. Kind of like the word 'better!'

[Laurentius]

For more concerning Cento Tomatoes go here: Tomatoes and tomatoe products

[Tscarborough]

If you were going to ship tomatoes across the world, why would you want to ship them in heavy, small containers? You ship them in bulk, and can them on location (location being the US in this case).

[HeidiL2011]

Hi BartRicci.

San Marzano DOP tomatoes are certified by the European Union and can only grow in a specific region of Italy outside Naples -- just like real Champagne can only come from the Champagne region of France.

That does not stop US producers from using the name, even though the product is different. It's like a US company calling a wine Chablis, which is also a controlled name in Europe, and "real" Chablis can only come from a specific region in France

Hope this information helps.

[Lburou]

I read a thread here reporting that San Marzano tomato seeds are availabile here in the USA......You can grow them anywhere.

[RTflorida]

I think Bart is confused, just as I am about this Cento issue, The currently have two different cans on the shelf - 1 has a San Marzano Certfied label and the 2nd has a organic D.O.P stamp verifying they meet the standards of the concortium. we have been trying tio find out the truth, are either or both actuallyD.O.P certifed

[Tscarborough]

They do have DOP, Italian grown san marzanos, and san marzanos grown in the US, each labeled as such.

I just planted three san marzanos this weekend.

[factoryrat]

I've been growing marzanos here in ohio since 1985. My neighbor brought the seeds from Italy, he had family there that shared a passion for gardening.

[rberg02]

This link is informative and explains the discrepancy. Evidentally, Cento is no longer "DOP Certified," now it is just "Certified" whatever that means....
San Marzano Tomatoes*-*The Italian Food Forum