In Italy you do not touch the Tomatoes

In Italy, you don’t touch the tomatoes.

At first, it feels a little unusual—

especially if you’re used to picking through produce,

turning it over, searching for the perfect one.

But here, it’s different.

You tell the grower what you’re making.

A salad. A sauce. Something for tonight.

And they choose for you.

The ripest tomatoes.

The best vegetables for the dish you have in mind.

Selected with care, with pride… and with knowledge.

Because in Italy, food isn’t just bought—

it’s guided.

Even in the supermarket, the tradition remains.

You’ll find gloves provided before you touch the produce,

a quiet reminder that these ingredients are meant to be handled with respect.

It’s a small thing, really.

But it speaks to something much bigger.

A connection between the grower and the table.

A trust in the process.

An understanding that good food begins long before it reaches your kitchen.

And as I stand there, waiting for my tomatoes to be chosen…

I find myself hoping this tradition never fades.

Because some things are worth holding onto.