Nothing defines Italian Culture in Melbourne more than the backyard tomato harvest and suburban garage sauce making.

Since 2015 The Melbourne Tomato Festival brings this positive childhood memory to the wider community in support of multiculturalism and preservation of cultures and customs through food. Also, social well-being through connecting people to each other with food.

How we grow our food or 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.

It is in keeping with this ethos that 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 or the Melbourne Tomato Festival. It is a gathering of local farmers selling produce, speakers, agriculturalists, cooking demonstrations (Guy Grossi, Karen Martini, Frank Camorra), Italian food (Pezzo, 400 Gradi, Woodstock, Cellar Bar, Gelato Tino), artisan producers (The Fermentary, Mount Zero, Berries, Tomatoes, Herbs) special guests, history, entertainment (live music) and of course passata making.

This is an affordable ticketed event and 2017 will be its third year. It is widely supported and in two short years has already built a strong reputation based on its success and professional mobilisation. The 2016 event was opened by The Honourable Premier Daniel Andrews.