Our History
For over 140 years, the Pastene brand has been bringing people together with only the highest quality ingredients. From artichokes to ziti and crushed peppers to Kitchen-Ready tomatoes, the Pastene label has long stood for homestyle cooking and garden-fresh flavors.
What started in 1874 as a modest pushcart operation in a primarily Italian Boston neighborhood has grown into one of North America’s oldest family-run businesses. Over the years, we have continued to hone our craft and grow alongside generations of customers.
A lot has changed since Luigi Pastene arrived from Italy in 1848. Our country has seen two World Wars and a Great Depression, a plague, and a pandemic. 35 U.S. Presidents have left their mark on America’s history. We went from steam-powered cars to cars you fill with gasoline, to cars you plug in to charge. We’ve sent courageous men and women to explore the infinite reaches of space and we’ve evolved from the invention of the telephone to having one in every pocket. Through it all, the Pastene brand has endured. And for good reason.
The Pastene Way
Pastene holds two values above all else: quality and authenticity.
It is our belief that the best ingredients make the best meals, and that the best meals make the best memories. We strive to source and produce our products with the utmost care and quality so that when you buy Pastene, you know you’re buying the very best.
We source our San Marzano tomatoes straight from the Salerno region of Italy. They’re ground, peeled, and fresh-sealed so they’re ready straight from the jar. No muss, no fuss.
Our pastas are produced in Italy from the finest durum semolina and imported straight to your kitchen table.
We vacuum-pack our aged, grated cheeses in glass jars to ensure that when you shake them over your favorite meal, the flavors come bursting to life.
We use only the first cold press of mature olives for our Extra Virgin Olive Oil, giving it its distinct greenish hue and sweet, never-bitter flavor.
Needless to say, we go to great lengths and take great pride in giving you only the finest ingredients. We wouldn’t want it any other way for our family, and nor should you for yours.
Time for Something New
Just as Pietro Pastene knew his pushcart could not sustain the growing volume and success of his business, we know Pastene’s continued growth depends on our never-waning commitment to quality and a fast, easy, and engaging shopping experience. And sometimes that means growing with the times. And grow we have!
We invite you to visit and explore our new and exciting site experience, shop our entire line of products, savor and share award-winning recipes, learn about and explore our ingredients, and let your mouth water at our appetite-inducing photography. Because quality and freshness doesn’t stop with our products; it’s the cornerstone of everything we do!
