That’s amore - passata party!

Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable? We say it doesn’t matter… because whatever you call it, it’s absolutely delicious to bottle up the bounty of summer. This saucy celebration on Sunday was a hit!

Nonnas and Nonnos proud of their homemade passata

Thanks to the helpers who rolled up their sleeves, shared laughs, and made this event fun and informative. Special shoutout to Wendy and Marshall for lending us their legendary passata machine. We’re still talking about how impressive it was (and maybe plotting to borrow it again next year 😅).

• 42kg of tomatoes—most donated straight from local backyards

• Pinch of salt and basil leaf in each

• Lots of patience waiting for the pot to boil…

• 62 bottles of beautiful, homemade passata

• Smiles, stories, sauce-splattered aprons and summer sunshine captured in a jar!

Fruit Rescue isn’t just about saving fruit from going to waste (though we love that part). It’s about growing our community’s skills, learning how to preserve the harvest, sharing knowledge, and building resilience for whatever the future brings.

By connecting with each other, we’re creating support networks that last far beyond tomato season—and ending up with a delicious product in the process. We look forward to enjoying this all through the year, in the depths of winter longing for warmth again.

We’re grateful for the support of the Warrnambool City Council’s Healthy Warrnambool funding, which helps us run these fabulous, hands-on sessions. And thanks to everyone who donated tomatoes, jars and time to make it possible.

Whether tomato is a fruit or a vegetable: who cares! If it tastes this good and helps us save the bounty of summer, it can be whatever it wants to be.

Stay tuned for more community preserving adventures—suggestions welcome to hellofruitrescue@gmail.com