Lilikoi Specialty Foods, based in Vancouver, British Columbia (Western Canada), was originally founded as an importer & distributor of gourmet specialties from around the world.

After a visit to a family doctor revealed some potential health issues, Robert Giardino (Lilikoi's founder), decided to embrace the natural way of eating associated with his Italian heritage. Subsequently, Lilikoi's product line consisted of a variety of healthy & nutritious items such as infused olive oils, spices, appetizers and its flagship product, an ancient grain called Farro.

As time went on, the winds of change gently facilitated a shift to products that fell into the Heirloom or Legacy category. Organically grown, GMO free products are the new paradigm.

Farro of course already met the requirement. Orzo Mondo Tostato (roasted barley) was then added, as was Cicerchie (chickling peas) and Umbrian lentils.

Along with this product change, a sales & marketing change was also needed. A decision was made to buy direct from the grower and package under a proprietary label. This would allow greater control over quality and selection, while allowing Lilikoi to work with other distributors instead of working against them. Thus the Casa Retaggio brand was born

Casa Retaggio

Over the last few thousand years, a lot has changed in the way we grow & process our food. The question is, have our bodies adapted to those changes?

The name Casa Retaggio accurately reflects the philosophy behind the brand: to rediscover the agricultural legacy that our ancestors left us, whether it was 5,000 years ago or only 50.

Casa of course means "house" and Retaggio is the Italian word for "heritage" or "legacy".

The brand was created to honour Heritage Crops, those wonderful foods from our past, some ancient in origin and others merely a few hundred years old.

These crops almost died out in favour of higher yielding ones that eventually fell prey to modern farming techniques. However, thanks in large part to the conscientious farmers who have relit the torch of Nature’s Legacy, these crops are once again being cultivated as they originally were: by sensible and sustainable methods.

By reconnecting with our past, we can ensure a sustainable future!

The Casa Retaggio brand will endeavour to stay within the framework of "legacy crops" that are GMO free and organically grown.