Had the best time visiting Del Monte farms and cannery in Modesto, CA last month. Had the privilege of meeting some of the Del Monte staff, their farmers along with touring the factory, peach and tomato farms with 5 other food bloggers from across the country. Del Monte delighted us with this refreshing Peach Sorbet to get our morning started.
Photo courtesy of Del Monte Foods
What a treat to tour the cannery where many of Del Monte’s fruit products are packaged and prepared for the shelves. Here’s a shot of the canned peaches almost done.
Photo courtesy of Del Monte Foods
The pears were as gorgeous as ever.
Our fun Del Monte group from left to right: Kelly, Julie, Ali, Robyn, Me and Gina.
I learned that nearly 90% of Del Monte fruit and vegetables are grown in the United States, in the best growing regions for a consistently quality product. 100% of Del Monte’s canned peaches & tomatoes are grown in the United States.
Del Monte picks their fruit, vegetables and tomatoes at the peak of ripeness, with the majority canned the same day they are picked to lock in nutrients and flavor. 98% of their canned fruit, vegetables and tomatoes are preservative free. According to Del Monte, fruits, vegetables, and tomatoes contain similar nutrients as fresh when prepared for the table. In some instances, such as peaches & tomatoes, the canned version may contain more antioxidants and vitamins than fresh as a result of the canning process.
The peach farmers and their sweet dog Cosmo told us all about the dedication and hard work that goes into maintaining beautiful peaches for Del Monte.
We got to pick peaches right off the tree. I found this very amusing apparently 🙂
We had a lovely Barbecue style lunch back at the Del Monte cannery. Gorgeous fruited water and centerpieces were on each table.
Friends and a beautiful lunch!
A glimpse at some of our lunch.
After lunch, it was off to the tomato farm. These are bright Roma-style tomatoes that were just about ready.
Colorful tomatoes for acres and acres.
Photo courtesy of Del Monte Foods
Julie and I picking tomatoes to take home.
Photo courtesy of Del Monte Foods
Bloggers with the tomato farmers. Fun afternoon.
What an absolute treat to meet these tomato farmers. They were some of the sweetest people I’ve ever met. So generous and kind. Many of Del Monte’s farmers are third generation partners with Del Monte Foods, especially in fruit where several families have grown fruit for Del Monte for more than 70 years. These vegetable & tomato growers have been with Del Monte on average thirty years. I enjoyed visiting the Del Monte cannery in Modesto. It gave me new insight about how our fruits and vegetables are brought to us. Their fruits, vegetables and tomatoes are grown in excellent soil and packed at the peak of ripeness. Del Monte has been accomplishing this for over 100 years.
I love fresh peach pie!
tweet
https://twitter.com/Kellydinpa/status/377253971485675520
I like a Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil Salad
A basic tomato tart!
Chili with fresh tomatoes!
One of my favorites with tomatoes: panzanella!
Copycat Chili’s salsa is my favorite canned tomato recipe.
Pereira bros tomatoes…..Thats the farm I grew up on!!! My dad is Mike (plaid shirt) and thats my uncle Anthony and my aunt Karen showing them the ropes of tomato farming……
I read the official rules.
I love to make peach cobbler!
Beautiful photos!
I really love eating tomatoes as is, but I also love pasta with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella, as well as sliced tomatoes on a pizza!
I love warm peach cobbler topped with vanilla bean ice cream! YUM!
About the tomatoes, I’ll have a cheese and tomato sandwich on bread with American cheese, mayo and a nice fresh juicy tomato!
Can’t wait to try your peach cobbler for the peaches, and of course Teedo’s salsa for the tomatoes!
My tweet is here: https://twitter.com/Seattle_Jenn/status/377222549173571584
What a fantastic visit. I *love* the fresh peaches we get to enjoy here in Washington. My favorite new (to me anyway) recipe this year has been the Peach Dumplings with Bourbon Hard Sauce recipe from the Smitten Kitchen cookbook. A friend who just started blogging posted a link to her attempt which turned out fantastically. I was so inspired I had to try it, too. Delicious!
Hands down, my grandma’s peach cobbler. Mmmm, I can imagine the smell now.
I love making “Creamy Peach Pie” and serving it warm with whipped cream!!
pretty basic but i love peach crisp or tomatoes on my burger
peach smoothies for sure! although I would love to learn how to make a simple tomato sauce for pasta! (:
I like making something bruschetta-like with honey thyme roasted cherry tomatoes placed on top of ricotta smothered baguettes.
Dutch over peach cobbler – always a winner!! However – I’ve never made it. Also, love it when my bro-in-law makes peach-huckleberry homemade syrup for waffles in the morning.
I love peach cobbler/crisp, and adding peach or vanilla ice cream couldn’t hurt 😉
So jealous of this trip, it would be a dream to visit such a big farm… gives me big hopes and dreams for my own rooftop garden!
Peach cobbler for the peaches. Salsa for the tomatoes.
blueberry peach cobbler. yum!
LOVE your peach/mango smoothie recipe you recently posted. Yum!!
Peach crisp!
https://twitter.com/mkjmc/status/377190945466613760
I love fresh peaches on warm biscuits and whipped cream
Peach cobbler is a favorite at our house
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/377190014909558784
I have a killer Peach Cobbler cupcake recipe… yum!
I like peach salsa
My husband loves my peach cobbler!
I cannot pass up good ole’ peach cobbler with buttery biscuit topping!
I like making homemade spaghetti sauce with tomatoes.