The tomato is original from the plant Solanum lycopersicum, commonly known as a tomato plant. It is said that is has been first planted in western South and Central America. Its historical name tomatl gave origin to the Spanish word tomate, which derived into tomato in English. Its use as a cultivated food may have originated with the indigenous peoples of Mexico. The Aztecs used tomatoes at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, and they were the ones who brought the plant to Europe. From there, the tomato was introduced to other parts of the European-colonized world during the 16th century.

Numerous varieties of the tomato plant are widely grown in temperate climates across the world, with greenhouses allowing for the production of tomatoes throughout all seasons of the year. Tomato plants typically grow to 1–3 meters in height.

The main tomato producing areas in Argentina are the provinces of Mendoza and San Juan (West), Salta and Jujuy (North), Corrientes and Formosa (North Eastern), Rio Negro (South), and Buenos Aires.

Market overview and production

Crushed tomatoes are usually considered as a mix of more finely diced tomatoes and tomato puree or paste, and it’s generally pourable, but with a thicker consistency with small chunks of tomatoes.

The first step of its process, is the careful choice of the proper tomatoes. All green and yellow tomatoes and all defective ones are discarded. The selected tomatoes are washed, they enter production and, after a quick burn that softens their skin, they are cut into cubes, go into the "pounder" that crushes them and derives their pulp, excluding most of the seeds and peels. The final product is then packaged.

Frequently asked questions

What are crushed tomatoes? Finely diced tomatoes mixed with puree.

What to do with crushed tomatoes? They can be used as a base for soup, in home-made pasta sauce, pizza, and so forth.

What is the difference between diced and crushed tomatoes? Diced tomatoes’ pieces are bigger than crushed tomatoes.

Are crushed tomatoes gluten free? Yes, all canned tomatoes are gluten free.

How long do crushed tomatoes last? Properly stored, they can be stored at best quality for about 18 to 24 months. Once opened, 7 to 10 days. It can be freezed.

Where can I purchase crushed tomatoes in bulk? You can purchase at Directoro direct from producers.

Related products and ideas

Make pizza sauce at home. You need: 500 g crushed tomatoes, 3 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp dried oregano crushed, 1 tbsp dried basil crushed, 1 clove of garlic chopped, salt and pepper up to taste.

Combine the tomatoes, sugar, oregano, basil, garlic, salt, and pepper and stir together in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, continually stirring. Use a food processor and puree the sauce until smooth. Simmer the pureed sauce until slightly thickened, 5 to 10 minutes, stirring periodically.

This can be refrigerated up to 7 days. This recipe makes approximately 2 cups sauce and it can also be frozen for up to 3 months.