Val Bisenzio tomato named new Slow Food Presidium

The Borsa di Montone tomato from Val Bisenzio has been officially recognized as a new Slow Food Presidium. This ancient Tuscan variety is cultivated by four producers across the municipalities of Cantagallo, Vaiano, and Vernio in the province of Prato.

Growing at altitudes between 250 and 500 meters, the tomato is characterized by its late ripening season, often lasting until late October. It features a distinctive appearance with red skin, golden streaks, and small white raised markings. While noted for its intense flavor and thin skin, the variety is known for its limited shelf life.

The rediscovery of the variety is credited to Simone Rossini, a local producer who learned about the plant from an elderly farmer named Amerigo. Once widely grown in the region during the 1980s, the variety had nearly disappeared before being revitalized to preserve the agricultural biodiversity of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines.