Short production lines with all
stages performed “in house”
Manually prepared and 100% Italian
Vegetables dried in the sun
Produced without preservatives
Flavours are authentic, not
“standardised”
Excellent value
Like our vegetables need time, sun, water and great care to grow and to come to the right grade of maturation, in the same way our farm has budded and flourished year after year in the last 30 years. Our grandfathers, our fathers, the women of our family have given body and soul to the care of our land and its fruits. Their hardworking hands and their devotion have permitted us to grow up loving our sun and our red land, learning that is important to improve ourselves and the surrounding landscape.
To produce as we do, let us say it, it is necessary to be a little bit agriculturist, a little bit artisan and a little bit artist. Every time we create a new product, we stop to imagine which sensation we want to offer to our clients, which surprise we want to give them and, which is the best taste to use in order to leave a long memory of our wonderful place.
Our farm is always opened to the public. With us people can discover and learn the art of cultivation, of the picking and the conservation of the vegetables. Touristic destination and meeting-place, “iContadini“ is not only a brand but a way to choose a daily quality.
The cultivation
Our farm is situated in Apulia, in one of the most fertile area in fact of cultivation of vegetables. We are exactly in Salento, the so-called “ land of the sun, of the sea, of the wind”. The particular weather condition of this strip of land, kissed by the sun nearly all year round, the composition of the soil and the benevolent influence of the sea make it possible to get unique products. The cultivation is directly put into practice by our farm. We follow all the phases, using the integrated production technique, on more than twenty-five hectares of greens in open field.
The picking
That of the picking is a very important moment because, it rewards all the work done during the cultivation and gives great satisfaction in seeing the plants given their fruits. Our skilled staff picks the vegetables by hand selecting them on the field. After that, greens are put in cases of maximum 23 Kg to avoid damages and immediately transported to the factory to be processed fresh.
The working process
Our vegetables are naturally dried under the strong sun of Salento, preserving in them all the organoleptic and nourishing qualities. The sun-drying technique is an ancient art that, even though it is delicate and difficult, allows to obtain an absolute unique result: softness of the pulp, preservation of vitamins, proteins and minerals, and a special harmonic flavour which is far more recognizable. The salting determines the good end result of the desiccation, that’s why we still do it manually. All the processing phases regarding tomatoes, artichokes, cime di rapa, lampascioni and other greens are followed by the diligent and experienced hands of our southern country-women.
The packaging
The last phase is the bottling of the greens, where no preservatives are added to the food. The confection is directly done in our factory. It is still effected with masterly skill and great care by the hands of our country-women, who follow step by step the good result of our traditional recipes. Our grandmothers used to lay in stores for the winter many of the home-made food prepared during the summer time. The safety rules and the protection of the quality of our products are always respected. We do our best in order to bring on your table all the care and the love we put in making our products.
The cherry-peppers have a round shape. They are cultivatedin the month of May and are picked by hand in the end ofAugust, when they are completely red. The cherry-peppers have a round shape. They are cultivatedin the month of May and are picked by...
Our onions are cultivated in open field from februaryand picked by hand in the month of june, when they arefully mature. This kind of onion is a very sweet one withunmistakable taste. Our onions are cultivated in open field from februaryand picked by hand in the month of june,...
The aubergines are cultivated in open field in our farm in themonth of April and are picked by hand in July and August.After the picking, they are washed, selected, cut into sliceswith all their peel, salted and laid in the sun on desiccationframes for 3-4 days. The aubergines are cultivated in open field in our farm in themonth of April and are picked by...
The long tomatoes are cultivated in open field in our farmstarting from April and May. They are picked by hand in Julyand August. Once in our factory, they are washed, selected,cut, salted and laid in the sun on desiccation frames for4-5 days. The long tomatoes are cultivated in open field in our farmstarting from April and May. They are...
The long tomatoes are cultivated in open field in our farmin the months of April and May and they are picked by handin July and August. Once picked, they are washed, selected,cut by hand, salted and laid in the sun on desiccation framesfor 4-5 days. The long tomatoes are cultivated in open field in our farmin the months of April and May and they...
In this all-dressing you will find all the greens cultivated inopen field in our farm from April to May and which are pickedby hand from June to September. The vegetables are naturallydried in the sun and then worked by hand from our women. In this all-dressing you will find all the greens cultivated inopen field in our farm from April...
They are black olives typical of our area and are completelypicked in November through hand-harvesting. They are black olives typical of our area and are completelypicked in November through...
The long tomatoes are cultivated in April and May andare picked by hand in July and August. All the phases areprocessed inside our farm. Once picked, they are washed,selected, cut, laid on desiccation frames, salted e put in thesun The long tomatoes are cultivated in April and May andare picked by hand in July and August. All...
This exclusive and unique product preserves the hearts of fennel, that small and soft part which is the most valuable and which is found in the center of the vegetable, preserved in extra virgin olive oil This exclusive and unique product preserves the hearts of fennel, that small and soft part which...
A great 100% organic sauce, unique and savory, made up from raw and red tomatoes ! A great 100% organic sauce, unique and savory, made up from raw and red tomatoes !
The Cherry tomatoes are cultivated in April and are pickedby hand in the month of July. All the phases are processedinside our factory. The tomatoes are picked, washed, selected,manually cut, salted and desiccated in the sun for 4-5 days onwood frames. The Cherry tomatoes are cultivated in April and are pickedby hand in the month of July. All the...
The hot peppers are cultivated in open field between theend of May and the beginning of June. The picking, betweenAugust and October, requires more steps because of thepeculiarities of this plant. The hot peppers are cultivated in open field between theend of May and the beginning of June. The...
The Leccine and Celline olives are typical of our area. They arepicked up from tree by hand-harvesting between October andNovember. Farmers bring the olives to our factory, where theprocess to neutralize their bitter taste starts. They are selectedaccording to the size, washed and put in water and salt forabout 6 months. The Leccine and Celline olives are typical of our area. They arepicked up from tree by...
Capers are typical of the Salento landscape and of the countrytradition. During all the ‘900 whole families got up very earlyin the morning and went to the countryside to pick the capersup, one by one, from the low and bushy plants. In the ’70the town of Racale was a leader in the production of capers. Capers are typical of the Salento landscape and of the countrytradition. During all the ‘900...
The green tomatoes of Salento are cultivated in open fieldin the month of May and are picked by hand in July, whenthe tomatoes are still green. They are washed, selected, cutinto slices and laid to mature under salt. The green tomatoes of Salento are cultivated in open fieldin the month of May and are picked by...
The “brindisino” variety of artichoke is autochthon of our area.This kind of artichokes can only be cultivated taking smallplants from an already existent plantation. The cultivationstarts in the beginning of October and the picking in themonth of May. The “brindisino” variety of artichoke is autochthon of our area.This kind of artichokes can only...
The zucchini are cultivated in open field in our farm startingfrom April and are picked by hand in June and July. Once in ourfactory, they are washed, selected, cut into slices with theirpeel, salted and laid in the sun on desiccation frames for 3-4days. The zucchini are cultivated in open field in our farm startingfrom April and are picked by hand...
These San Marzano plum tomatoes are grown in spring and harvested in summer within all the area of our farm. They are rinsed, selected, cut and arranged on special drying frames, then salted up and left under the sun rays until dry. These San Marzano plum tomatoes are grown in spring and harvested in summer within all the area...
In this pie we use hot peppers which are called “cornetti”. Theyare cultivated in open field in the end of May and are pickedby hand from August to October. In this pie we use hot peppers which are called “cornetti”. Theyare cultivated in open field in...
These San Marzano plum tomatoes are grown in spring and harvested in summer within all the area of our farm. They are rinsed, selected, cut and arranged on special drying frames, then salted up and left under the sun rays until dry. These San Marzano plum tomatoes are grown in spring and harvested in summer within all the area...
The “brindisino” variety of artichoke is autochthon of our area.This kind of artichokes can only be cultivated taking smallplants from an already existent plantation. The cultivationstarts in the beginning of October and the picking in themonth of May. The “brindisino” variety of artichoke is autochthon of our area.This kind of artichokes can only...
This recipe is a poetry. Coming from an ancient tradition,this conserve has become year by year a luxury and a daintymouthful. Its preparation requires long time and great care,so we can say that love and patience are its main ingredients. This recipe is a poetry. Coming from an ancient tradition,this conserve has become year by year a...