"The Sabatino company began in Umbria, Italy in 1911 — founded when Balestra’s grandfather, Sabatino Balestra, opened a small shop selling the delicacies. At that time, the product was only found in the wild by truffle hunters using specially trained dogs," the Hartford Business reports.



"Sold and shipped whole like this, truffles are used by upscale restaurants to garnish and flavor exclusive dishes. This small, climate-controlled room contains a lot of value — just one ounce of this truffle sells for $95; a handful could yield $1,000 or more.

"In fact, Sabatino has continually expanded the plant until it now extends to 125,000 square feet. The newest addition is a 42,000-square-foot, fully automated warehouse and distribution center that Sabatino opened in December. With this additional space, the company has been able to consolidate warehouse operations that it had elsewhere in West Haven and New Haven."

"What makes us different? It’s simple—we do it all. From the earth to your table, we oversee every step of the journey, ensuring that only the finest truffles make their way to you," the Sabatino's official website says.

"This hands-on approach allows us to maintain perfection at every stage, preserving the magic and authenticity of each truffle.

"Today, Sabatino stands as the world’s largest truffle specialist, yet at its heart, we remain a family-owned company driven by passion, tradition, and an unwavering commitment to quality. It’s not just about truffles—it’s about sharing a century-old legacy with you."

"Federico Balestra, standing in his recently expanded West Haven manufacturing facility, was surrounded by boxes full of black winter truffles — a delicate fungus that grows at the roots of oak and hazelnut trees," the We the Italians reports.

 “This truffle arrived last night, shipped yesterday morning from Italy,” said Balestra, the third-generation owner and CEO of his truffle company, Sabatino. “The order will go out to UPS and FedEx by this afternoon. It will be to the customer tomorrow.”

"Sold and shipped whole like this, truffles are used by upscale restaurants to garnish and flavor exclusive dishes. This small, climate-controlled room contains a lot of value — just one ounce of this truffle sells for $95; a handful could yield $1,000 or more."

"The expansion by Sabatino Tartufi of its Front Avenue warehouse has enabled the company to consolidate in West Haven the auxiliary distribution facilities the company had in New Haven and elsewhere, said Pauline Charles, a spokeswoman for the company. West Haven is the North American headquarters for the Italian company," the CT Insider reports.

"Sabatino's products include luxury oils, condiments, honey, seasonings, spreads and instant meals. The company's world headquarters is in the Umbria region of Italy, about 90 minutes northeast of Rome.

""The expansion enables us to better meet growing demand, enhance our service and uphold our sustainability values," Balestra said in a written statement. "It's an important step in our U.S. growth."

"This past week, I had the pleasure of touring Sabatino’s factory with a group of my fellow students from The Culinary Institute of America! Sabatino has been donating truffles to the school for many years, making it possible for students just like me to work with this wonderful product on a daily basis," the Culinary Institute of America says.

"Walking through the doors of the factory, I instantly felt like I was in the heart of Umbria, Italy. The original factory was first opened in Umbria by Balestra and his wife, Giuseppina.

"They are harvested seasonally and with the help of a man’s best friend. Truffle hunters rely on highly trained dogs to find the roots of the trees where the truffles grow approximately 12 inches in the ground. Sabatino has five different varieties of truffles that they offer in any given year. When I visited, I was very lucky to actually enter the fresh lab of the factory."

"A truffle is the fruiting body of a subterranean ascomycete fungus, one of the species of the genus Tuber. More than one hundred other genera of fungi are classified as truffles including Geopora, Peziza, Choiromyces, and Leucangium. These genera belong to the class Pezizomycetes and the Pezizales order.

"Truffles are ectomycorrhizal fungi, so they are found in close association with tree roots. Spore dispersal is accomplished through fungivores, animals that eat fungi. These fungi have ecological roles in nutrient cycling and drought tolerance.

"Some truffle species are prized as food. Edible truffles are used in Italian, French[4] and other national haute cuisines. Truffles are cultivated and harvested from natural environments." (Wikipedia)

"Discover the magic of truffles with Sabatino, the world's largest truffle specialist based in Montecastrilli, Italy, and West Haven, CT. Family-owned and operated for generations, Sabatino offers a premium selection of the finest truffle species and high-quality truffle products. Trusted by renowned chefs worldwide, Sabatino's products are also available to consumers, allowing them to bring the enchantment of truffles to their own kitchen," the Sabatino's official press release says.

"Sabatino, the largest and most productive truffle company in the world, has announced  the opening of its new distribution center in West Haven, Connecticut. This state-of-the-art facility expands Sabatino's warehouse capacity by 40%, positioning the company to meet the increasing global demand for its premium truffle products.

"This new facility serves as a central hub for production, packaging, and shipping of Sabatino's diverse lineup, including luxury oils, condiments, honey, seasonings, spreads, and instant meals. Each product benefits from a direct, traceable supply chain that connects Sabatino's orchards to the tables of chefs and food lovers worldwide."

"Sabatino brings the magic of truffles to kitchens across the U.S., Canada, and beyond. With world-class facilities in Umbria, Italy, and a newly expanded 125,000-square-foot facility in West Haven, CT—the largest truffle facility in the world—we ensure every truffle product meets the highest standards," the Sabatino's official website says.

"Our offices across Europe, Asia, and the U.S. support our global reach, but at our core, we’re a family business with deep roots in tradition. For over a century, we’ve carefully overseen every step of the process, from sourcing and harvesting to production and distribution.

"This dedication to quality and craftsmanship has made us a trusted name among chefs, culinary innovators, and truffle lovers everywhere."

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