Our Story

Like many good ideas, Zesto Pesto was born out of necessity. It was another way to answer that age-old question…What’s for dinner?! Our kids — we have five! — loved pasta but wanted a change from red sauce or butter and cheese. They loved their grandmother Nahni’s pesto, but she didn’t live close, so it was a rare treat since we’ve never been able to find good pesto at the store. Chris decided to make his own pine nut pesto and, from then on, no other would do. (Even Nahni says his is the best!)

We shared it with friends and family who thought it was amazing and said we should sell it. When sampling it at a local farmers’ market we encountered the same reaction. We started our foray into the wholesale pesto business right as the pandemic hit and, of course, that brought it to a screeching halt.

Fast forward a few years and we took the plunge again, launching our business for real in the fall of 2023.

Chris loves to dabble in the kitchen and that extended to Zesto Pesto. We like to explore different flavor pairings. Lucky you! The one that started it all, Traditional Pine Nut (our kids still say it’s the GOAT) was joined by heart-healthy Toasted Walnut; Vegan for those who prefer non-dairy; and Cilantro & Macadamia Nut because the world just needs that combo. Our seasonal selections were so well received they’ve been added to the year-round list: Pea Shoot & Pistachio tastes like Spring; Radish Shoot & Cashew is an unusual but mouthwatering pairing; and Kale &Toasted Pecan is a savory selection with a delicious, nutty finish. Since we don’t use preservatives, we sell our pesto frozen to keep that amazingly fresh flavor.

The common thread? They’re all delish!

We’re hoping to make pesto a staple at dinner tables in the Commonwealth and beyond.

Join us! Try it and “Be Impressed by the Zest!”