Process for producing lycopene (I) from biosynthetic sources. Process for producing lycopene (I) from biosynthetic sources comprises: (a) optionally fermenting mixed strains of Blakeslea trispora (+) and (-) under (I)-producing conditions; (b) direct treatment of the biosynthetic source (particularly the fermentation broth of (a)) with alcohol and separation of the wet, purified biomass (A); (c) drying (A), with disaggregation and rupture; (d) extracting (I) from the biomass with organic solvent; (e) concentrating the extract; (f) precipitation/crystallization of (I) from the concentrate by adding alcohol; and (g) filtering, drying and formulating. An independent claim is also included for compositions containing (I) produced by this method.