First, if the package is unopened, it will last approximately 2-3 weeks after the date on the lid. We've found that the fresh tomatoes lose some of their texture after 90-120 days from production (which is what the date reflects), so that's when we feel that the product has lost its 'edge'. We've tested it in the lab, however, and it's safe to eat as long as it hasn't been left out too long or otherwise affected.

The second part of the answer is how long Santa Barbara Salsa lasts after opening. As with any mixture of fresh vegetables (such as you would make at home), the product will begin to lose texture and its bright flavor notes after 20 or so days. Let your palette be the guide.

The Natural and Home Style Salsas don’t last quite as long due to their recipes. Try to use them by the date indicated on each package.

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Yes, the Orthodox Union certifies all of our fresh salsas and Bruschetta as kosher.

Our shelf stable salsas are not kosher, because the equipment we produce them on occasionally is used to produce other products that are not kosher-certified.

The Pestos are not kosher because they contain cheese.

No. We use only gluten-free ingredients.

We use only fresh tomatoes, onions and peppers, and never cook the salsa, so we're only as good as what Mother Nature provides on the day we produce. We select only the finest, freshest and most flavorful produce each day. Sometimes, based on the season of the year, we get variation in flavor, texture and the natural moisture in the tomatoes. We do our best to keep it in a range, and we know you'll understand that it's the same variation you would see in your own homemade salsa if you made it every day of the year!

We make products that appeal to broad numbers of consumers. We'd like to please "hard core" hot enthusiasts, but there aren't many of them (yet!). As a result we keep our Hot spicy but not painful. If you just gotta have heat, add some additional Jalapeños or your favorite hot spice.

All things being equal we'd leave them out, but they perform a very important role in protecting our customers from health concerns. Santa Barbara Salsa is made with fresh vegetables, which come in from the fields with a natural amount of (benign) bacteria. We use state of the art cleaning technology to remove everything from the outside, but there's simply no way to remove everything inside without cooking the finished product. That, of course, would remove the texture of the tomatoes, which is why many people buy refrigerated salsa to begin with! If you look on the label almost every other brand of refrigerated salsa has preservatives, sometimes in the form of vinegar (acetic acid) or citric acid. The basic action is to lower the pH of the product, which retards the natural bacteria. We've chosen a mixture of tiny amounts of several broadly used preservatives, developed for us by a professor at UC Davis and a Ph.D. food technologist, to provide safety and avoid adding any flavor.

NO! Santa Barbara works to be the top quality product in our category. We use only the best quality tomatoes available on any given day, so we don't need fillers to "take up" the juice cheaper tomatoes can bring in. We also use a new mixing technology that uses the natural (juice) runoff of the cutting process to mix our spice blend.

A few of our salsas use fruits, to which we must add water to create the right flavor and texture. We add only the water needed to make the fruit enjoyable. Check out our competition - many of them add water (in large quantities) to lower the cost of their product.

No. Just like freezing a fresh tomato, the results would be unappetizing when thawed.

Our salsa is chunky like a Pico de Gallo, but it's focused on the flavor of the tomato and spices. Pico de Gallo traditionally has a much higher percentage of (hot) peppers.

These products are authentically Italian toppings for bread, pasta and cooked foods of any kind. They have bold flavors, in keeping with their traditional role as enhancements to Genoese and Tuscan cooking. Try some on crusty bread or toss into your favorite pasta for a simple, flavorful meal solution.

That varies by city. On the West Coast we're primarily found in the "wall deli" where you usually find shredded cheese and bologna. On the East Coast we're usually in the "Service Deli" (out in front of the counter, often with gourmet cheeses). Other places we're in the Dairy case along with fresh tortillas, sour cream dips and the like. If you can't find it, ask your grocer.

Yes, in communities that accept #5 (see recycling symbol on the cup). They also make great containers for your leftovers, but remove the lid before use in the microwave.

We're happy to sell it that way to consumers who can't find it near their home. Our best suggestion is our shelf stable, jarred salsa you can order online here.

We also have our wonderful California Perfect Pepper Sauce and our excellent Taco Sauce. Order them here.

No, but it's worth explaining a bit about the what "genetically-modified" really means for our products.

All the tomatoes we use are hybrid varieties, but are done the "Luther Burbank Way" with manual cross-pollination. Several years ago there was some press coverage of major tomato-producing companies' attempts to cultivate genetically-engineered tomatoes. Those companies ultimately withdrew their efforts due to the outcry. Today, none of the commercially available tomato varieties (including those we use) are 'engineered'.

Genetically-Modified is a loaded term, since many people assume today's hybrids are artificially created. However, the fact is that today's commercial tomatoes were developed for specific characteristics (pest resistance, firmness, etc.) by trial and error, using traditional methods. For example, it is common for seed farms to conduct trial and error research by manually brushing pollen from one variety of tomato onto the flower of another, then observing what results. This is how today's varieties (including the ones we use) were created. As Burbank proved, Mother Nature is an excellent gatekeeper.

Bottom line, there is no cause for concern in our (or probably anyone's) tomato-based salsa products.

We don't collect any information about visitors to the site, except the information required to fill orders and respond to inquiries. That information is strictly confidential within our company. We will not share it with anyone else. You might receive occasional email updates from us (new products, etc.), and if you don't want that type of contact simply make a note somewhere on the order form (use an empty field, or send us a follow-up email).

Yes. We use SSL (secure socket layer) encryption to assure that your credit card information reaches us, and only us. This is industry-standard encryption that major web sites use to protect users all over the web.

Yes. Our spinach is thoroughly cleaned, sanitized and blanched to eliminate any possible contaminants.