Nearly 100 years ago, the founders of Ocean Mist Farms set roots in Castroville, California with the goal of growing the very best quality vegetables for their families and surrounding community. And with that goal, came the the very early commitment to care for their land and natural resources in such a way that helped to ensure the quality standards they were seeking.
As our operations have grown over the years to include hundreds of acres of farm land across multiple growing areas, so has our investment in sustainable farming practices. As we’ve maintained our commitment to grow the gold standard of artichokes, we’ve also made it a top priority to steward the land that has so generously served us well these past 10 decades.
Here are two of our major environmental stewardship initiatives that we take great pride in:
Water Conservation
Water conservation is such a big part of our farming operations that people from all over the world come to look at the processes we have in place so that they can replicate on their own farm land.
If you’ve ever owned a home with a sprinkler system, you can imagine the amount water that is needed for hundreds of acres worth of farm land, and consequently, the amount of water that could be wasted or overused. At Ocean Mist Farms, we’re proud to say that 90% of the company’s operations are drip irrigation, which is 70%+ more efficient than sprinkler irrigation. This method not only saves on water, but reduces electrical and labor needs, which collectively results in greater production efficiency.
In addition, of the more than 12,000 acre-feet of water generated per year by recycling projects in Monterey County, California - 8,100 acre-feet (67%) are used by Ocean Mist Farms.
Ocean Mist Farms’ water is also treated in a local water shed, which decreases water run-off and stops seawater intrusion – a huge responsibility for us, since we are located so close to the pacific ocean here in Castroville.
Restoring California Wetlands
Another way in which we help to steward our land well is by maintaining and restoring local wetlands. Ocean Mist Farms donated a 30-acre parcel adjacent to its fields to the Elkhorn Slough Foundation (ESF) in addition to a $10,000 donation to the foundation, which has aided in restoring and protecting land that would have otherwise been dry, dusty, and hard to farm. Now, the land is used for wildlife conservation, water percolation, and education.
We love to see local field trips taken to the Elkhorn Slough, where students and families learn about wetlands restoration, local wildlife, and environmental stewardship practices like the ones we value so much.
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