Farm-to-table might seem like a novel concept to many, but for Italian immigrants, it was simply a way of life. When coming to the New World, along with their culinary skills and traditional recipes, they brought their extensive gardening knowledge as many lived in rural areas and sustained themselves as farmers.

Italian immigrants gardening traditions were maintained in their backyards for decades. They would carry a few seeds of fruits and vegetables with them in their return trips from Italy and started growing their own produce in their garden, from planting fig trees to cultivating tomatoes. These hidden gems can be found all over the country, and are a true testament to the astonishing hard work and wisdom of Italian gardeners.