In January 2011, after a long road, I began to produce small batches of my absolutely delicious tomato sauce, which I now sell in jars via the Nello’s Italy website and at a number of stores. Nello’s Sauce is perfect for pasta, pizza, and dipping. My sauce is very healthy and the Nello’s Italy website generates a lot of daily traffic (roughly 8,000 unique visitors a month). Nello's Sauce has received a lot of great publicity, with pieces in Chapel Hill Magazine, SavorNC Magazine, the News & Observer, and appearances on popular blogs, like Kath Eats Real Foods, Foodie Fresh, and Durham Foodie (see the link above to "Press" for more info). What I need are the further funds to take my dream to the next level. That can come in many ways--either simply buying the sauce online or considering a financial gift (see below). With some help secured, I can bring Nello's Sauce to more of those who love, well . . . a delicious, healthy sauce.

As one who's lived in Italy for three years, including countless hours with Italians at the table, I've come to believe that time at the table is crucial to developing lasting and meaningful relationships, both with people and with food. I founded Nello's Italy, the website, in 2010 with the goal of combating the forces that prevent us from having time to share together. Being one part teacher, one part writer, I share my knowledge and love of Italy with people here in North America (but certainly not only) in the hope that an appreciation of Italian food and the culture of the table in Italy will transform how we go about our daily lives, leading at last to *better* lives. Nello's Sauce is an extension of my project--the sauce is "Italy in a jar." Those who try my sauce are inspired by it, often trying new recipes, experimenting with homemade pizza or pasta. I hear from many people who use my sauce, sharing pictures of their friends and family at the table. Dads making homemade pasta with their kids. Couples trying their hand at fancy Italian baked dishes. Parties where the sauce is the dinner's centerpiece. Nello's Sauce slows us down. I've already enjoyed success, but this is only the beginning. With help I can launch other sauces and sizes, use more local ingredients, furthering my mission of educating and sharing Italy and the slow-life. With help I can also dedicate my efforts to building lasting connections in those stores I truly believe in, such as Earth Fare, Whole Foods, Weaver Street Market, and other natural-foods stores, where a commitment to healthy, responsible eating is number one. I know, why support an entrepreneur when you could support a charity? I don't disagree, but I also believing that small businesses bring about a lot of good in our society. If you believe in that, perhaps you'll consider supporting Nello's? Read below to learn more.

I understand that entering a product into the marketplace presents many challenges. As such, I'm always analyzing local and national sauce-making companies, studying their websites, labels, pricing, and products. I've received business advice from industry experts and am continuing to foster these relationships so that I can take the knowledge and skill around me and apply it to my own business. I want to be the best sauce-making company possible. I'm set to be that.

Putting your money behind me is a good idea. I’m a driven, caring person. I’ve dedicated my heart and soul over the past twelve years to giving Italy to others. I have an impalpable love of Italian food and culture and a love for making my sauce. I’ve meticulously followed all the necessary legal steps required to produce and sell a food product. My website, “Nello’s Italy,” has grown tremendously since its launch in April 2010, having generated over 100,000 unique site visits, over 1,000 fans on Facebook, and over 350 followers on Twitter. You can count on me.

Prior to launching Nello's, my day job was in a production department: I saw things from start to finish, from ideas to objects. This knowledge is invaluable to my sauce-making business. I have solid suppliers of ingredients and jars at wholesale. I have learned a lot about the science behind food production. I have been carefully building solid relationships with local grocers and will soon scale up my production in a facility.

Nello's stands for "the best." My customers always rave about the taste of the sauce, saying it tastes "homemade," like "grandma's," is simply delicious. Along with Nello's Sauce, there's Nello's Italy, my website dedicated to all things Italian. I've a PhD in Italian and bring Italy to my readers straight from the boot. Unlike a lot of major brands, I give and will continue to give my readers and followers the best possible view of Italy and include great recipes for Nello's Sauce.

That’s because in my sauce I use premium ingredients: whole peeled plum tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, garlic, fine black pepper, and basil. I have a secret blending technique that results in the perfect consistency and a recipe that allows each ingredient to bring out its best flavor.

Per serving there are 50 calories, 3g of fat, 0g of which are saturated or trans. There is no cholesterol and only 160mg of sodium. There are 4g of total carbohydrates, 1g in dietary fiber and 3g of sugars. Each serving has 1g of protein. By eating one serving of Nello’s Sauce you’ll get 10% of you daily allowance of Vitamin A, 10% of Vitamin C, and 2% of Calcium, and 4 % of Iron.

Sauce, sauce, sauce. That’s what I’ll give. The more one gives the more sauce he or she will get.

• $1-14: A personal thank you note!

• $15-30: One jar of Nello's Sauce. A personal thank you note!

• $31-50: Four jars of Nello's Sauce. A personal thank you note!

• $51-100: Eight jars of Nello's Sauce. A personal thank you note!

• $101-200: Ten jars of Nello's Sauce. A Nello's Sauce tote! A personal thank you note!

• $201-300: Ten jars of Nello's Sauce. A Nello's Sauce tote! A Nello's Sauce T-Shirt! A personal thank you note!

• $301-500: Fifteen jars of Nello's Sauce. Two Nello's Sauce totes! Two Nello's Sauce T-Shirts! A personal thank you note!
• $501-1,000: Twenty jars of Nello's Sauce. Four Nello's Sauce totes! Four Nello's Sauce T-Shirts! A personal thank you note!
• $1,001+: Four jars of Nello's Sauce a MONTH for a YEAR! Four Nello's Sauce totes! Four Nello's Sauce T-Shirts! A personal thank you note!