Although the tomato is not native to Italy or Australia, for generations it has come to typify Italian Culture through its use in cooking, customs and festivals. The Grossi Family has initiated the Melbournese Movement to preserve these traditions in what is now our new territory. Melbournese is about respecting the territory that surrounds us, eating seasonally as nature intended, encouraging new and past generations to come together so that our story can be told for years to come, respecting food and the basic right that all human beings have to eat well. How we grow our food and where we source it from has a great impact on our health, lifestyle and future. Our food traditions define our culture, our family and ultimately us as individuals. After all the greatest decision we make for ourselves is how we eat.
The Melbourne Tomato Festival will act as The Melbournese Movement’s yearly event.
It is in keeping with this ethos we gather together our local producers, community and champions of all things Italian to celebrate what has become known as ‘National Italian Day’ – the making of the passata and now the Melbourne Tomato Festival.
Our friend Joe Faranda allows us to grow our tomato crop on his farm in Werribee South. This year the San Marzano has been planted. As an extension of our own harvest and sauce-making day the Melbourne Tomato Festival has evolved.
The Farm Vigano site was chosen for the festival because of its significance to the Italian community. Mario Vigano was a pioneer within the Italian food and wine culture within Australia and typifies the migrant story of contrast and adaptation. This site is particularly poignant to the Grossi Family as it was Mario Vigano who brought Pietro Grossi to Australia and work in his restaurant, ‘Mario’s, in 1960. This friendship has left its legacy on our family and its future generations.
MELBOURNE TOMATO FESTIVAL 2015 AIMS TO:
- Celebrate Italian culture, food and wine.
- Celebrate the harvest and heritage varieties.
- Preserve artisan customs, traditions and authenticity within our region for generations to come.
- Help to understand and respect our territory from the growing of the produce to how we treat it.
- Bring families together through the basic act of preparing food together.
- Bring the community together and celebrate our diversity and local heroes.
- Be a time to share food together.
- Be lots of fun.
- Celebrate the harvest and heritage varieties.
- Preserve artisan customs, traditions and authenticity within our region for generations to come.
- Help to understand and respect our territory from the growing of the produce to how we treat it.
- Bring families together through the basic act of preparing food together.
- Bring the community together and celebrate our diversity and local heroes.
- Be a time to share food together.
- Be lots of fun.
WHAT TO BRING
- Shopping bags - Bags will be available to purchase on the day for a small fee which will be donated to SecondBite. We recommend bringing some extra for all your fresh produce
- A picnic blanket - For sitting amongst the orchard eating delicious food
- Cash - This is a cash only event. Limited ATM facilities will be available but we recommend to come well equipped to purchase great food and produce
- Sun protection - Slip, Slop, Slap
- Farm Vigano is located at 10 Bushmans Way, South Morang
- Due to limited space this event can not allow pets. We apologise for the inconvenience
- This is a family event, please drink responsibly
- No BYO - Alcohol is available for purchase, the event is strictly no BYO
- This is a non-smoking event
- Limited parking is available. If you can use alternative transport we recommend you do so
- Parking on site requires a gold coin donation that will be donated to the Rotary Club of Whittlesea
- The farm is positioned on a hill/slope and access to the farm is difficult for persons with mobility issues, however we will have assistance available on the day should anyone require it
- Accessible parking bays will be set aside in the on site car community health centre car park accessed off Bushmans Way. Event staff will assist in directing motorists to the disabled reserved car park
More Information: http://www.melbournetomatofestival.com
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