"We have been growing citrus fruits and tomatoes of cultivars native tothe Campania (Italy) lands for over 4 generations. Our flagship products are the San Marzano tomato and an aromatic lemon of the Zagara Bianca variety, which we transform into cold-processed juice according to traditional methods," said Francesco Grimaldi, owner of the Casa Grimaldi company.
The family-run business was founded in a territory renowned for originating the name of the tomato variety that is the epitome of Italian products all over the world, namely San Marzano sul Sarno (SA).
"To obtain a premium product it takes dedication and effort in what you do. The land is an asset in itself, but then you need the people who have the know-how and are committed to it. This requires expertise and solid agronomic practices on how to grow San Marzano in the traditional way, from the rows that support the plant to the harvest. Sown, planted, raised on chestnut poles that facilitate ripening and harvesting on the poles, the tomatoes are processed after being selected and peeled under the expert hands of trained professionals".
"During the summer campaign, we harvested and processed one hectare of San Marzano tomatoes following the production regulations. Our company is registered in the San Marzano PDO producer directory. We also grow other varieties of cherry and date tomatoes, both red and yellow. We strive for continuous excellence and aim to perfect our sowing, harvesting and processing techniques. One of our main values is to remain faithful to the rural tradition, while trying to adapt it to the modern world. We have combined all our tradition and experience with the most modern farming techniques to provide a product that is always excellent, fresh and with outstanding nutritional properties.
"In terms of production, the San Marzano tomato campaign - that has now ended - was characterized by lower volumes, due to a number of problems linked to the extreme summer drought, the torrid climate and the lack of water reserves," explained Raffaele Grimaldi.
Among the flagship products are the classic San Marzano tomato puree and peeled tomatoes, available in 680 and 520-gram glass sizes.
The brand-new product, in production since this year, is a natural lemon juice, made with the Limone zagara bianca variety, ideal for the preparation of granitas, whose commercial channels are bars and restaurants. The preparations available in 250ml and 1lt family sizes for the Ho.re.ca. channel contain 60% of lemon juice, cold-pressed with artisanal methods".
Casa Grimaldi is aiming to communicate the branded product line mainly through the online channel, which has grown a lot in the last four years and even more so in the lockdown period.
"Strengthening the internet retail channel also means investing in the aesthetics of the jars through design, glass quality and colors. Another important aspect is the emphasis on the territory of origin on the label. We have implemented this by means of a QR code that links to the online site and provides information on the production lots. The main aspect is the traceability of the product and its history.
