Why San Marzano Tomatoes Make Better Sauce
If homemade tomato sauce is on your late-summer list, this is the tomato you’ve been waiting for.
Our premium San Marzano tomatoes are now available by the bushel at Orchard Fruit Market, just in time for sauce-making season.
What Makes San Marzano Tomatoes Special?
San Marzanos are a plum-style tomato prized for making rich, flavourful sauce. While Roma tomatoes are also a popular choice for preserving, San Marzanos have a few characteristics that make them especially well suited to sauce.
They have thick flesh, fewer seeds and less water than many other tomatoes, which means less liquid to cook down and more rich tomato flavour in every batch. They're also known for their naturally sweet flavour and lower acidity, creating a beautifully balanced sauce without needing much added sugar.
The result? A thick, smooth and flavourful homemade sauce that lets the tomatoes do most of the work.
Sauce-Making Season Starts with a Bushel 🍅
Buying tomatoes by the bushel is perfect if you're planning a big batch of sauce to enjoy throughout the fall and winter.
Make a family recipe, stock the freezer or spend an afternoon canning for the pantry. There’s something pretty satisfying about turning a bushel of fresh tomatoes into jars of homemade sauce you'll be enjoying months from now.
And if you've always used Roma tomatoes for sauce, this might be the year to try San Marzano.
Make the Famous Marcella Hazan Tomato Sauce
Need a little inspiration before committing to a bushel?
One of the most famous tomato sauces is also one of the simplest. Italian cookbook author Marcella Hazan's tomato sauce with butter and onion became famous for transforming just a few ingredients into an incredibly rich sauce.
For a fresh San Marzano-inspired version, you'll need:
Fresh San Marzano tomatoes
Butter
One onion
Salt
Peel and prepare the tomatoes, then gently simmer them with butter and an onion cut in half. Let everything cook slowly until the tomatoes break down and the sauce becomes rich and velvety. Remove the onion before serving, season to taste and serve with your favourite pasta.
It's simple, comforting and a perfect way to really taste the difference a great tomato can make.
For canning, always follow a tested canning recipe and current food-safety guidelines rather than adapting this fresh pasta sauce.
Premium San Marzano Tomatoes Available by the Bushel
Our premium San Marzano tomatoes are available now by the bushel, but like all seasonal Ontario produce, they're only here for a limited time.
If homemade sauce is part of your family's late-summer tradition—or you want to start a new one—now is the time.
Stop by Orchard Fruit Market or place your order for a bushel and make the most of tomato season. 🍅