Escalon - AFH | Kraft Heinz

ABOVE ALL, A BETTER TOMATO

At Escalon, we believe the best tomatoes come from doing things the right way, just like Cristoforo and Emma Colombo did when they first started over 80 years ago. From our fields to your plate, it’s all about pure, simple quality you can trust.

THE ESCALON DIFFERENCE

Fresh Packed
Our tomatoes are packed fresh - within hours of harvest - ensuring a flavor experience that's truly fresh from the vine.
Steam Peeled
Instead of using harsh chemicals to peel our tomatoes, we use only natural steam, resulting in a fresher, better flavor you have to taste to believe.
No Added Citric Acid
Preservatives like citric acid can cause a bitter taste. The goodness of natural tomatoes sets our products apart. You'll taste the difference!
Low Time & Temperature Processing
By minimizing heat and cooking time, Escalon is able to capture more fresh tomato color and flavor.

This vibrant illustration showcases ripe, red tomatoes, symbolizing the fresh flavor and quality ingredients found in Kraft Heinz Away From Home products. Elevate your menu with our premium tomato-based solutions.

A RIPE HISTORY

1944: Escalon’s Foundation
Cristoforo and Emma Colombo founded Escalon Packers with a passion to create the world’s best canned tomatoes, focused on freshness, craftsmanship, consistency, and exceptional flavor.
1944 – 1991: A Passion for Better
For over 80 years, Cristoforo’s tomato breeding program has focused on flavor, color, and performance. He handpicked our grower group and developed all-natural processing for consistent, delicious results.
1991: Acquired by Heinz
Heinz acquired Escalon in 1991, unlocking growth potential. Over the years, we've boosted processing capacity with investments in plant efficiency, all while staying true to our founder’s core values.
Today: Continuing the Tradition
From the beginning, Cristoforo was dedicated to preserving the tomato’s natural goodness—a principle that still drives us today. We share your passion for great food and respect for your customers.

OUR FAMILY OF BRANDS

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EXPLORE OUR PRODUCTS

Our process

From field to can, within hours

At Kraft Heinz Away From Home, we're committed to sourcing the finest quality ingredients. This image captures the essence of farm-fresh goodness, with a handful of ripe, red tomatoes straight from the field.

Choosing the Best Tomatoes

For over 90 years, we’ve been perfecting tomato varieties. Our tomatoes are so good, that even other West Coast processors use our seeds.

At Kraft Heinz Away From Home, quality is at the heart of everything we do. This image shows fresh tomatoes being thoroughly washed, highlighting our commitment to cleanliness and food safety in every step of our process.

Screening, sorting & selecting

Escalon tomatoes get more than a little scrutiny. Each tomato is screened for minute physical blemishes and then graded and sorted according to our strict quality standards. Then, much like vintners making a fine wine, we use this detailed information to create the perfect blend of tomatoes for the ultimate product flavor, aroma and color.

At Kraft Heinz Away From Home, we ensure the highest quality ingredients for our customers. This image offers a glimpse into our tomato processing facility, where each tomato is carefully inspected and sorted.

GENTLE PROCESSING

Fresh tomatoes must be handled with care. That’s why we insist on gentle processing methods that never sacrifice quality for quantity. We use low-temperature technology and minimize cooking time to capture more of each tomato’s fresh color and flavor. Instead of using harsh chemicals to peel our tomatoes, we use only natural steam to protect their taste as well as the environment. Above all, what matters to you and your customers is taste. We make our entire line of Escalon branded tomatoes without added citric acid, a preservative that can impart a noticeably bitter taste.

Focused on Quality

From fresh packing to steam peeling and skipping citric acid, quality is everything to us. Hundreds of trained sorters inspect every load, and we taste-test every batch to keep things just right.