Hey, it’s Alex–
Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to join the harvest at the Stanislaus Tomato plant.
For those who may not know, they offer tours throughout the harvest season, but they also host exclusive, invite-only sessions—complete with all-expenses-paid trips to the Corto Olive Oil fields and the Stanislaus Tomato packing plant.
This experience easily ranks among the top five of my career. It was a dream come true just to be invited, but sharing it with such an amazing group of people made it even more special.
It’s wild how disconnected we often are from our food. I’ve worked with Stanislaus tomatoes for 15 years, but to sit at the source, grab a tomato fresh off the vine, and bite into it was an indescribable experience.
Witnessing the entire process—how tomatoes are picked, transported, washed, cooked, sorted, and canned—felt like something out of Willy Wonka. Throughout the tour, we were treated to five-star service by the Stanislaus family.
I say “family” because not only was it a privilege to see the love and care that go into producing these tomatoes and olive oil, but it was also inspiring to witness the genuine affection their team has for the process and for one another.
This was truly a life-changing trip, one that I will hold dearly for the rest of my life.
Food is sacred, and it’s something we often take for granted. I always thought a lot went into making my pizzas, but after this journey, I can confidently say that every ingredient and everything we source is the best quality all the way to your table.
Every pizza we make deserves the same level of care, passion, and pride that the team at Stanislaus puts into their work.
“Growth is the only evidence of life.” — John Henry Newman
An Alta Cucina tomato that brought goosebumps to my skin.
