Tomato Guide - Springfield, MA

TOMATO GUIDE

A GUIDE TO TOMATO-BASED PRODUCTS FROM A LEADER IN RESTAURANT CUISINE

TOMATOES

THE TASTE AND VERSATILITY THAT DELIVER

With vibrant, natural colors and an array of sizes, tomatoes deliver ample fresh-tasting flavor, serving as among the most adaptable and indispensable ingredients in foodservice. Tomato-based products have an unparalleled recipe versatility that extends across every menu and are integral to cultural cuisines the world over. They are an essential feature of sauces and toppings, as well as the prime ingredient of consumer favorites such as pizza, pasta, and salsa. This guide explores the breadth of our exclusive branded tomato-based products, their different applications, and their unique properties.

As an expert in foodservice distribution — and the industry leader in pizza and Italian fare — Performance Foodservice knows canned tomatoes and specialized tomato products. We offer 101 unique canned, bagged, frozen, and cut packaged tomato products, which are sourced and carefully selected from tomatoes found in the prime growing regions of the world — Italy, California, and the Midwest. Every product is made from perfectly ripened tomatoes to meet our customers’ expectations for integrity, yield, taste, and performance.

Whether sourced from round or plum tomatoes, offered in whole, ground, diced, sundried, or stewed varieties — even made into a finished sauce or purée — you can expect a consistency and quality that are hallmarks of Performance Foodservice canned and pouch tomato products. This emphasis on authenticity and Old World artisanship has, for more than 66 years, helped build our Roma® brand into an industry legend. Our portfolio of Roma®, Piancone®, Piancone® Epicureo, Assoluti!®, Luigi®, and Ultimo!® tomato products instantly elevate pizza and Italian dishes to acclaimed status.

Along with quality branded products for the pizza and Italian restaurant marketplace, our portfolio of tomato products in exclusive brands such as Contigo®, West Creek®, Magellan®, Silver Source®, and Bountiful Harvest® allows us to serve the fast-growing Hispanic and Latin markets, as well as any other restaurant concepts.

As experts in the tomato foodservice landscape, we invite you to join us on a tour of everything that this essential vined fruit has to offer.

GROWING REGIONS

The differences in soil and climate conditions among the various tomato growing regions account for variances in consistency, solids, taste, and usage. While tomatoes are grown in many regions around the globe—China, India, and Turkey being the world’s largest producers— Performance Foodservice sources from several major growing regions which produce the finest tasting tomatoes on the planet. In the United States, this includes California, the nation’s No. 1 producer, the Midwest, primarily in the states of Indiana and Ohio. While internationally this includes portions of Canada, and the Naples region of Italy.

Tomatoes grown in California have higher amounts of solids (sugar, acids, salt) than those grown in the Midwest, Canada, and Italy. The higher solid count in California allows producers to craft a more diverse range of products, from quality pizza sauces, to all-purpose ground tomatoes, to peeled pear tomatoes in juice or purée. The higher solids in California tomatoes provide more structure and durability. When making sauce preparations, California tomatoes can endure a longer cook time because of this structure. Also, preparing a sauce using meat such as beef, pork, veal, or lamb will work well with the higher tomato solids. Pizza baked in a 500-degree oven will also perform well with California products.

Midwest tomatoes have fewer solids and are less sweet and tart than those grown in California and Italy. And despite a shorter growing season, the tomatoes produced in the Midwest are grown at the same latitude as those in Italy and California, resulting in vine-ripe products that are rich in color, texture, and flavor, perfect for sauces and ketchup.

Italy’s tomato producers make fewer varieties, but the distinct flavor of peeled whole tomatoes with basil makes them the most popular tomato products in pizza and Italian cooking throughout the world. In Naples, Mount Vesuvius’ volcanic soil and the nearby sea provide an ideal environment for tomato plants, giving them a sweet and only slightly tart taste.

The differences in soil and climate conditions account for variances in consistency, taste, and usage.

TOMATO FACTS & FIGURES

Tomatoes are made up of pulp, seeds, skin, and solids. Solids are one component of the tomato that determines its structure and how it is used. Solids are made up of three aspects—sugar, acids and salt.

Recent statistics indicate 38.3 million metric tons of tomato products (estimated raw material equivalent) are consumed globally. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Americans eat between 22- 24 pounds of tomatoes per person, per year. (More than half of those are ketchup and tomato sauce).

There are more than 10,000 varieties of tomatoes which come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, and even colors. Plum tomatoes are ideal for making pizza sauce and other tomato sauces. Pear tomatoes are basically cherry tomatoes except pear-shaped. These heirloom tomato varieties can be traced back to the 18th century, and while they can come in reds or oranges, they’re most commonly yellow. They have delicate skin and a sweet, mild flavor.

Whole peeled tomatoes are packed in either juice or puree and are usually the highest quality tomato products. Crushed tomatoes are simply broken up from whole peeled and are used for sauces and recipes. Diced tomatoes are tomato chunks packed in tomato juice.

Roma is the classic tomato used in Italian cooking and is popular for canning and making tomato paste. Though the classic Roma is 3 inches long, larger varieties are now available. Romas are not as sweet as some of the similar heirloom tomatoes.

San Marzano is considered the classic paste tomato. The San Marzano has a dense, almost dry, sweet flavor. The tomatoes typically grow between 2 to 3 inches. Legally, and to be called a San Marzano, this tomato must be grown in the “Valley of Sarno,” in Italy.

CANNING/PACKING

Performance Foodservice tomato products are packed according to specific guidelines — a standard of quality gained through understanding our customers’ needs for more than 66 years. Our producers work closely with growers who manage fields for acceptable pH levels and harvest at the perfect time of year.

During the packing season, we test numerous samples through a rigorous process. Our producers perform detailed lab tests on the crop before entering the packing plant, and fresh fruit is rejected if not up to the required standards. We ensure that when our tomato products are packed, the cooking temperature is cooler than the industry standard. This process ensures a fresher, more robust tomato flavor and enables us to maintain the consistency of our brands year-after-year.

TERMSGLOSSARY OF TERMS

BRIX

BRIX is a measure in degrees of the number of dissolved solids in a liquid via its specific gravity. Used to measure dissolved sugar in fruit juice.

Chopped, Cut & Strip Tomatoes

Tomatoes that are peeled or unpeeled, this variety are then cut into units (cubes, slices, etc.) of approximately uniform thickness.

Crushed Tomatoes

The texture and consistency of a crushed tomato lies somewhere between tomato sauce and diced. These are often used as a great shortcut for making sauces.

Diced Tomatoes

Fresh tomatoes that are chopped into small pieces or cubes prior to canning.

Ground Tomatoes

Not to be confused with purée which is typically cooked for a longer period.

Pear Tomato

Pear-shaped and can be based upon the San Marzano types for a richer gourmet paste.

Plum Tomato

A term used to classify tomatoes that centers on the size and shape of the fruit. Plum tomatoes are medium- to small-sized, oval, or cylindrical in shape, are thickwalled, and have fewer seed compartments. Plum tomatoes are sometimes called paste tomatoes or Roma tomatoes.

Round Tomato

Round tomatoes are large, round red tomatoes usually used for slicing and salads. They have a classic tomato flavor.

Sun Dried Tomatoes

Fresh picked tomatoes are rinsed, sized, sliced, and placed on drying trays. This is followed by 1 to 2 weeks of drying, which reduces the moisture content of the tomato and provides pronounced tomato flavors.

Tomato Juice

Made from fine tomato pulp, with all skins and stems removed from the tomato.

Tomato Purée

Tomato purée is a thick liquid made from cooked and strained tomatoes. The purée is made from whole tomatoes and generally does not include added water.

Tomato Paste

Tomato paste offers a thick and concentrated flavor, and it’s darker in color due to the amount of time the tomatoes are cooked down.

Tomato Sauce

Generally tomato sauces have a pourable texture and are thinner than tomato purée.

Whole Tomatoes

The seasonal process of picking vine-ripe whole tomatoes — that are then cleaned, sorted, peeled (or unpeeled), blanched and packed in cans — all occur within hours of hanging on the vine. Generally packed in juice or purée, and with or without basil, this style of canned tomato is the most common as well as the most versatile.

TOMATO BRANDS

ALL THE INGREDIENTS YOU NEED FOR SUCCESS

Since 1955, our Italian family of brands have offered “quality service and quality products” within the Italian and Italian-American segments of foodservice distribution. From tomatoes, cheese, pasta, meats, and unique imported products, the following market leader brands represent a long-standing commitment to providing the best products available to each customer.

PIANCONE® EPICUREO

Built on the highly respected name Piancone, with 66-plus years of heritage in the Italian foods sector, Piancone Epicureo is a super-premium brand containing a portfolio of chef-centric epicurean specialty products used in fine Italian dining establishments. Whether it is the highest quality veal and Colorado lamb or imported Italian high protein bronze-die pasta and organic tomatoes, these products are carefully vetted and measured to the highest standard before selected to carry the name Piancone Epicureo.

PIANCONE® IMPORTED & DOMESTIC

Piancone’s premium selection of authentic and innovative products are manufactured and produced to rigorous specifications. Taste what more than 66 years of experience and quality bring to the table.

100% durum semolina pastas, cheeses, grilled vegetables, oils & vinegars, tomato products & sauces, and meats.

ROMA®

The standard for pizza and Italian restaurant operators. Encompassing Old World excellence, Roma boasts a vast array of consistent, high-quality products that deliver authentic flavor — and meet or exceed demanding expectations.

Tomatoes, filled pastas and Italian specialties, specialty and pizza cheeses, prepared sauces, meats, and Italian desserts.

ASSOLUTI!®

A large selection of Old World Italian basics and necessities provides authentic flavor profiles for the contemporary palate and convenience for today’s operator.

Flour, tomatoes, pizza cheeses, Italian & blended oils, dry pasta, calamari & Italian meats, and meatballs.

MAGELLAN®

Unique chef-centric products and specialty items in the preparation of entrées, desserts, and sides, operators can add a signature touch to their menu that leads to repeat traffic.

CONTIGO®

Welcome to Contigo — our exclusive branded portfolio of Hispanic and Latin foods sourced for authentic taste and flavor. Contigo, which means “with you” in Spanish, pays homage to Hispanic and Latin cuisine and its many diverse flavors that vary from Mexico and the Caribbean, to Central and South America.

LUIGI®

Designed for customers who require value-priced consistency and variety — staples that serve satisfaction.

Flour, tomatoes, bulk pasta, mushrooms, sandwich steaks, and pizza cheeses.

ULTIMO!® SUPREME & ULTIMO!®

Ideal for customers who require a full line of pizza products and ingredients. Ultimo! offers a wide range of value-added solutions.

Prepared pizza sauces & toppings, pizza crust, dough & mixes, shredded pizza cheese blends, and tomatoes.

WEST CREEK®

The hallmark of quality, consistency, and value. West Creek partners only with established suppliers who meet or exceed our standards of food safety wholesomeness and performance.

Fully cooked beef, pork & poultry, fresh chicken, beef, and pork; deli meats, franks, and sausages; canned & frozen fruits & vegetables, sauces, puddings, cooked & frozen entrées, quality oils & shortenings, flour, and convenient fries.

SILVER SOURCE®

Ideal for customers with a need for core products that meet the basics of customer satisfaction. In every product category that foodservice depends on, Silver Source offers economical solutions.

Prepared beef, pork & poultry, bacon, deli meats, franks, frozen fruits & vegetables, sauces, soups, & canned puddings, oils & shortenings, non-food & chemical products, to name a few.

THE WHOLE TOMATO

Within hours of hanging on the vine, ripe whole tomatoes are cleaned, sorted, peeled, blanched, and packed in cans.

This style of canned tomato is the most common, as well as the most versatile for cooking. We offer whole peeled tomato products canned in juice through our Assoluti! brand, sourced primarily from California and our West Creek and Silver Source brands, sourced from the Midwest.

Within our premier Piancone brand, we offer whole peeled tomatoes with basil in juice, sourced from Italy, along with products canned in purée, which are sourced from both Italy and California. Our newest product — organic whole peeled tomatoes with organic basil in juice — is imported from Italy under our highest quality Piancone Epicureo brand. These authentic whole peeled tomato products are perfect for making pizza and pasta sauces.

#231901

WHOLE PEELED

TOMATOES IN JUICE

Brand: Assoluti!

Origin: Midwest USA

Tomato Type: Round

Drain Weight: 66

Process: Fresh Pack

Pack/Size: 6/#10 Can

#232026

WHOLE PEELED

TOMATOES WITH BASIL

Brand: Piancone

Origin: California

Tomato Type: Pear

Drain Weight: 64

Process: Fresh Pack

Pack/Size: 6/#10 Can

#651936

WHOLE PEELED PLUM

TOMATOES IN PUREE WITH BASIL

Brand: Piancone

Origin: California

Tomato Type: Plum

Drain Weight: 65

Process: Fresh Pack

Pack/Size: 6/#10 Can

#385598

WHOLE PEELED TOMATOES WITH BASIL IN JUICE

Brand: Luigi

Origin: Italy

Tomato Type: Plum

Drain Weight: 63.5

Process: Fresh Pack

Pack/Size: 6/#10 Can

#233022

WHOLE PEELED

TOMATOES WITH BASIL IN JUICE

Brand: Piancone

Origin: Italy

Tomato Type: Plum

Drain Weight: 63.5

Process: Fresh Pack

Pack/Size: 6/#10 Can

A NICE DICE

The process of diced tomatoes takes fresh, whole tomatoes which are chopped into smaller pieces, or cubes, prior to canning. Diced tomatoes tend to cook down while retaining their shape more effectively than other options. They are excellent for use in soups, stews, and sauces. Our famous family of Roma products are sourced from the Midwest and California and canned in juice or purée as are our West Creek, Contigo, and Bountiful Harvest products.

#878218

DICED TOMATOES IN JUICE

Brand: West Creek

Origin: Midwest USA

Tomato Type: Roma/Plum

Process: Fresh Pack

Pack/Size: 6/#10 Can

#480642

DICED TOMATOES IN PUREE

Brand: Roma

Origin: California

Tomato Type: Round

Process: Fresh Pack

Pack/Size: 6/6.8 LB

#351962

PETITE 3/8" DICED

TOMATOES IN HEAVY JUICE

Brand: West Creek

Origin: Midwest USA

Tomato Type: Roma/Plum

Process: Fresh Pack

Pack/Size: 6/#10 Can

#493387

UNPEELED FIRE ROASTED DICED TOMATOES

Brand: Contigo

Origin: California

Tomato Type: Round

Process: Fresh Pack

Pack/Size: 6/#10 Can

#493438

DICED TOMATOES IN JUICE

Brand: Roma

Origin: California

Tomato Type: Round

Process: Fresh Pack

Pack/Size: 6/#10 Can

#493485

FIRE ROASTED SALSA RTU

Brand: Contigo

Origin: California

Tomato Type: Round

Process: Fresh Pack

Pack/Size: 6/#10 Can

PRIME CUT

In this process, peeled or unpeeled whole tomatoes are cut into units (cubes, slices, pieces, etc.) of approximately uniform thickness. Our Roma and Piancone products in this variety are sourced from California and canned in juice or purée. We also offer products under our West Creek, Contigo, and Bountiful Harvest brands, which are similarly canned in purée but sourced from the Midwest. These are all efficient products for preparing salsas, pasta sauces, and other Italian-style dishes.

#878216

SLICED STEWED TOMATOES

Brand: West Creek

Origin: Midwest USA

Tomato Type: Roma/Plum

Process: Fresh Pack

Pack/Size: 6/#10 Can

#233038

TOMATO STRIPS PEELED IN PUREE

Brand: Piancone

Origin: California

Tomato Type: Pear

Process: Fresh Pack

Pack/Size: 6/#10 Can

#878212

PEELED TOMATO STRIPS AND PEELED PIECES IN PUREE

Brand: West Creek

Origin: Midwest USA

Tomato Type: Roma/Plum

Process: Fresh Pack

Pack/Size: 6/#10 Can

GROUND FROM WHOLE TO

A CRUSH OF FLAVOR

Not to be confused with purée, which are typically cooked for a longer period, our products are packed from fresh pear tomatoes with no citric acid added but are sometimes blended with purée. Ground tomatoes work well in salsa, soups, and pizza and pasta sauces.

Our ground products can be found in Roma, Piancone, and Luigi brands sourced from California, along with a West Creek option from the Midwest. The Piancone and Luigi products are 100% steam peeled and include no calcium chloride. Our premier product in this category is an authentic peeled ground tomato option specially imported from Italy within the Piancone brand.

The texture and consistency of a crushed tomato lies somewhere between tomato sauce and diced. These are often used as a great shortcut for making sauces, particularly pizza, though these products generally do not include basil.

We feature super heavy concentrated crushed options from the Midwest under the West Creek and Bountiful Harvest labels, and we offer a similar product in our Contigo brand using Canadian tomatoes.

#234437

UNPEELED GROUND

TOMATOES IN HEAVY PUREE

Brand: Luigi

Origin: California

Tomato Type: Round

Process: Fresh Pack

Pack/Size: 6/#10 Can

#362259

PEELED GROUND TOMATO

Brand: Piancone

Origin: California

Tomato Type: Round

Process: Fresh Pack

Pack/Size: 6/#10 Can

#878215

CONCENTRATED

CRUSHED TOMATO

Brand: West Creek

Origin: Midwest USA

Tomato Type: Pear/Plum

Process: Fresh Pack 6/#10 Can

#231865

SUPER HEAVY

CONCENTRATED

CRUSHED TOMATOES

Brand: Roma

Origin: California

Tomato Type: Round

Process: Fresh Pack 6/#10 Can

FLAVOR PUR ÉE

MORE PASTE MORE TASTE

A purée is not as heavy as tomato paste and not as coarse as crushed tomatoes. Tomato purées are sometimes referred to as ground tomatoes, however, they are actually different products. Tomato purées have a thick viscosity created by cooking and straining tomatoes. Great for dips, tomato purées are also used for making pizza and pasta sauces.

We offer Piancone, Roma, and Bountiful Harvest products from California and West Creek, Contigo, and Bountiful Harvest products from the Midwest.

Tomato paste offers a thick and concentrated flavor, and it is darker in color due to the amount of time the tomatoes are cooked down. Tomato paste is often used as a complement to other ingredients, helping to enhance the tomato flavors with added richness. Our Roma and Bountiful Harvest brands come from California, with our West Creek version sourced from the Midwest.

#878206

TOMATO PUREE 1.06

Brand: West Creek

Origin: Midwest USA

Tomato Type: Roma/Plum

Process: Fresh/Concentrate

Pack/Size: 6/#10 Can

#651949

TOMATO PUREE 1.07

Brand: Piancone

Origin: California

Tomato Type: Plum

Process: Fresh Pack

Pack/Size: 6/#10 Can

#231869

TOMATO PASTE WITH 24% NATURAL TOMATO SOLUBLE SOLIDS

Brand: Roma

Origin: California

Tomato Type: Square/Round

Process: Fresh Pack

Pack/Size: 6/#10 Can

THE SECRET

SAUCY GET INGREDIENT

With more than half a century of expertise in Italian cooking, we know that the sauce often says it all. Our tomato sauces are carefully crafted for use in a variety of authentic dishes. Coming from California, our Roma and Bountiful Harvest sauces are perfect for classic pasta dishes. We offer a tomato sauce, a spaghetti sauce, a pasta sauce with olive oil and spices — even a premium chili option. Our West Creek sauce hails from the Midwest.

We are the market leaders in pizza with a comprehensive portfolio of cheese, dough, toppings, and of course, sauce. With that comes an understanding that pizza tastes and types vary by region and even city. A Chicago-style pizza is vastly different from what you might find in California or New York. And so, we offer a tremendous variety of pizza sauces in our Roma family of brands and West Creek brand.

PIZZA

PREPARED FULLY

Our delicious pizza sauces are made from sun-ripened tomatoes with basil, olive oil, and additional spices. Great for use on pizzas, calzones, and pastas, we offer Roma, Ultimo! and Piancone varieties sourced from California, in addition to a classic Piancone Epicureo sauce imported directly from Italy.

#651947

FULLY PREPARED

PIZZA SAUCE

Brand: Piancone

Origin: California

Tomato Type: Round

Evaporated

Process: Fresh Pack/

Sauce Made on Demand

Pack/Size: 6/#10 Can

#261212

MARINARA SAUCE

Brand: Piancone

Origin: California

Tomato Type: Round RTU

Process: Fresh Pack

Pack/Size: 6/#10 Can

#878198

MARINARA SAUCE

Brand: West Creek

Origin: Midwest USA

Tomato Type: Red Hybrids

Process: Concentrate

Pack/Size: 6/#10 Can

#878199

SPAGHETTI SAUCE

Brand: West Creek

Origin: Midwest USA

Tomato Type: Red Hybrids

Process: Concentrate

Pack/Size: 6/#10 Can