To mark over 16 years of working together, Abel & Cole and the Mr Organic team recently headed to Italy to visit the Italian organic brand’s tomato farm in Pontinia, just south of Rome. 

Guided by Valerio Simonetti, the founder of Mr Organic, the Abel & Cole team had the special opportunity to see the legacy the Simonett family had left him to take over. Coming from three generations of tomato producers, Valerio transformed the farm to become completely organic. He owns and runs the nearby factory where Mr Organic’s tomato-based products are made, ensuring that the tomatoes are cooked within three hours of harvest for optimal freshness and flavour.

The Abel & Cole team got the full tour to see how Mr Organic’s tomatoes are grown, harvested, cooked, and packed. They even got the chance to visit the next generation tomato fields, that is used for testing out new varieties and farming practices for the future. They got to see and taste different tomato varieties, see the field probes, drop irrigation systems, and learned more about mycorrhize fungi. Mycorrhizae are fungi that form a symbiotic relationship with tomato plants, offering advantages like helping to improve the plant’s absorption of key nutrients, and helping them tolerate drought by expanding the root system’s access to water. In addition, they provide additional protection for the plants by reducing the impact of soil-borne diseases by creating physical barriers and immune stimulation. With climate change and unpredictable weather patterns that may emerge, Valerio Simonetti knows that being able to adapt is vital to growing these organic tomatoes. By using mycorrhizae fungi, it creates a natural and organic way to protect the tomatoes without the use of pesticides.

 The Abel & Cole team has recently shared pieces about their visit to the farm on their social media accounts to spread awareness about the Mr Organic brand, its values, and the authenticity and quality of its Italian organic tomatoes. Their most recent post was a part of Abel & Cole’s ‘Ed explains’ series, where he provides insight about mycorrhize fungi on Mr Organic’s tomato farm.

Valerio Simonetti said: “We had an amazing time hosting Abel & Cole. They were our very first customernwhen we launched the brand, so it was important to us to show them our roots. They loved seeing all the biodiversity on our tomato farms, visiting the ‘next generation’ testing farm, learning about mycorrhize fungi, and visiting the factory. We have always had a close relationship with them since we share the same values of providing delicious, high-quality, organic food that is better for the people and the planet. It was great to have them over for a visit. ”