CASTROVILLE, Calif. – June 2, 2014 – Ocean Mist Farms celebrated a 90-year legacy of growing artichokes and premium fresh vegetables at the 55th Annual Castroville Artichoke Food and Wine Festival.
The fourth generation grower-owned company was founded by Italian Immigrants in 1924. They began their business by growing artichokes and Brussels sprouts along the Pacific Ocean’s Monterey Bay in Castroville, Calif. Today Ocean Mist Farms produces more than 30 different fresh vegetables in various locations throughout California, Arizona and Mexico. On April 10, 2013, California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed artichokes as the official state vegetable.
On Saturday, May 31, Ocean Mist Farms was honored for the impact it has made in the community since 1924 at a presentation that was part of the Castroville Artichoke Food and Wine Festival’s official program. On the Monterey County Fairground main stage, Monterey County Supervisor Lou Calcagno, State Senator Bill Monning and Amy Uber, Senior Agricultural Economist from the California Department of Food and Agriculture paid tribute to the company and presented Ocean Mist Farm’s CEO Ed Boutonnet and grower/owner Hugo Tottino with proclamations and commemorative plaques.
“The families and employees of Ocean Mist Farms have been the backbone of our community and festival for decades,” said Lou Calcagno, Monterey County Supervisor. “We are so happy to have had their support over the years and the festival is the perfect place to celebrate their 90 years of business in Castroville.”
In addition to the festival celebration, the company accomplished numerous projects this year to mark its anniversary including the redesign of the company’s two websites, oceanmist.com and artichokeclub.com, and the creation of a new site allaboutartichokes.com; rebranding its original root stock variety that dates back to 1924 as an Ocean Mist Farms Heirloom Artichoke. Ocean Mist Farms also produced a new video that shares the history of its 90 years in business.
Chief Executive Officer Ed Boutonnet said, “We are proud to reach this milestone together. Investing in quality people and farm land is the foundation of our success and longevity for generations of Ocean Mist growers.”
