As many of you are probably well aware Europeans take their food seriously. It is not like the United States where anyone can make most food products anywhere they want. Europe has thousands of years of food tradition and protecting that heritage is a serious…and legal matter!
A sparkling wine can only be labeled “Champagne” if it hails from the legally defined Champagne-region of France. While many people are aware of the protected status that wine receives many other foods get this protection, Proisciutto di Parma must come from Parma Italy, Roquefort cheese must come from the region of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon of France, and San Marzano Tomatoes must grow in the Valle del Sarno in the Salerno Province of Italy.
Canned tomatoes with the Pomodoro S. Marzano dell’Agro Sarnese-Nocerino are renowned for their strong, sweet flavor and lower acidity than other tomato varieties. These characteristics make San Marzano tomatoes highly sought after. This has lead to American tomato producers co-opting this protected name and even counterfeit tomatoes being shipped under this label from Italy. To be sure that you are getting true San Marzano canned tomatoes, you need to see the EU “DOP” emblem on the label.
At BrickOvenBaker.com we only provide our customers with certified “D.O.P.” San Marzano Tomatoes canned tomatoes from authorized producers in Salerno Italy.
View them in our store here.