How long does Chachies last in the refrigerator? This question has two answers. First, if the package is unopened it will be good for (at least) 2-3 weeks after the date on the bottom. We've found that the tomatoes lose some of their texture after about 90 days from production (which is what the sell-by date reflects), so that's when we generally feel 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 Chachies 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 about 20 or so days. Let your palette be the guide. Again, there's no health problem, just a question of when you feel it's not as good as when you first opened it. Please be sure to keep Chachies cold and avoid contaminating it (e.g. “double dipping”).

Can your products be frozen? No. Just like freezing a fresh tomato, the results would be unappetizing when thawed.

Why is the seal so hard to remove? We're working on an easier to open seal and we're aware of the concern. However, there's a thin line between convenience and safety that we don't want to cross. Current methods to seal cups like ours require a strong bond for safe transport and to make tampering difficult. We lean toward safety and we hope you'll understand. If and when we find an easier-opening seal (which doesn't increase the price) we'll add it!

Are your products kosher? Yes, all our Salsas are certified kosher by the Orthodox Union.

Why does the heat level, color and texture of your fresh salsa vary a little during the year? 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!

How hot is your Hot recipe? 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 salsa spicy but not painful. If you just gotta have heat, add some additional Jalapeños or your favorite hot spice.

Bottled salsas don't have preservatives, why do you? All things being equal we'd leave them out, but they perform a very important role in protecting our customers from health concerns. Chachies 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. (Vinegar and Citric Acid do have a taste, which we don't want in our salsa).

What's the difference between your “Salsa” and “Pico de Gallo”? 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.

Does Chachies add water to its recipes? NO! Chachies works to be the top quality product in our category. We use only the best quality tomatoes available on any given day, so the liquid you see is natural tomato juice. We don't add any juice or water. We also use a new mixing technology that uses the natural (juice) runoff of the cutting process to mix our spice blend. Check out our competition - many of them add water or tomato juice (in large quantities) to lower the cost of their product.

Where are your products located in my grocery store? 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.

Are your cups recyclable? Yes, but it varies by locality whether our products are collected by the waste companies. Our small (24 oz. and lower) cups are coded "5", which means they are polypropylene. Our larger (32 and 48 oz.) cups are coded "1" or “3”, which mean polyethylene and vinyl, respectively. Depending on your community, one or all may be collected in recycling bins. Please ask your recycler. Don't forget to reuse the cups too... they make great containers for storing other things in your refrigerator.