CASTROVILLE, Calif. (February 21, 2023) – Ocean Mist Farms, the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., announces the availability of their proprietary purple artichokes. This seasonal, limited edition to the Ocean Mist Farms artichoke family is a colorful variety selected for superior flavor and appearance.
WHO: Ocean Mist Farms
WHAT: Ocean Mist Farms proprietary Purple Artichokes are back for a fourth consecutive year. For nearly 100 years, Ocean Mist Farms has cultivated superior artichoke varieties in California. Tapping into this experience, they have developed a purple artichoke variety to enjoy alongside the lineup of other Ocean Mist Farms products and their traditional green varieties.
Characteristics of the Purple Artichokes include a vibrant purple exterior that when cooked may transform into shades of green and purple depending on seasoning and cooking method; the look and flavor of a Mediterranean old-world variety; tender, meaty leaves; and a rich, earthy artichoke flavor.
Size 12 and 18 will be the first purple artichokes harvested at the start of the season and will then transition to a medium size to fit into the 4-count clamshell Ocean Mist Farms will offer. This will be in addition to the loose artichokes with the tag (pictured above).
WHEN: Ocean Mist Farms expects the heaviest production period to be February 20 – April 23
WHERE: Grown in Castroville, California and available nationwide
About Ocean Mist Farms
Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned business in Castroville, CA. and the largest grower of fresh artichokes in North America, is committed to delivering the highest standards in the industry for food safety, product quality, customer service, innovation and sustainability. The company’s full line of over 30 fresh vegetables includes the award-winning Season & Steam and Ocean Mist Organic product lines. To stay up to date on the 2023 artichoke season, follow Ocean Mist on Instagram. To learn more about Ocean Mist Farms, visit www.oceanmist.com/. For recipe inspiration and preparation tips, follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (February 7, 2023) – Ocean Mist Farms, the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., launches the “Eat Your Heart Out” Sweepstakes. This multifaceted campaign, launching today and lasting through March 17, includes email marketing to a robust community of artichoke shoppers and produce buyers, social media advertising, and sweepstakes prizes – all to drive demand and in-store sales.
With this promotion, Ocean Mist Farms is supporting awareness of their winter artichoke variety during peak availability. Aiming to increase consumption during these early months while health and nutrition are still top of mind, Ocean Mist Farms is regularly educating consumers on the health benefits of artichokes, such as their immune boosting properties.
“Our winter artichoke crop has delivered on high quality and abundance, therefore marking this as a perfect time to drive consumer demand through our Sweepstakes,” said Mark Munger, senior director of marketing at Ocean Mist Farms. “We want consumers to know that our artichokes are grown to deliver consistent flavor as well as premium health benefits. Artichokes contain prebiotic fiber and other immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory properties that will help you eat well, rest well, and play well in the new year.”
Participants can enter the Sweepstakes for a chance to win prizes. There will be 10 Grand Prize winners who will receive one (1) $100 Visa gift card. Over on Instagram, Ocean Mist Farms will host two flash promotions throughout the duration of the Sweepstakes. Flash promotion #1) there will be 3 winners who will receive a $25 Visa gift card and Flash promotion #2) the first 25 entries will receive a free 6ct Artichoke shipped overnight to their doorstep!
Artichokes traditionally grow best in a Mediterranean-like climate, as the vegetable requires mild temperatures and plenty of moisture. However, Ocean Mist Farms has honed a proprietary seed variety specifically for the Coachella Valley climate. By utilizing Coachella’s optimal growing conditions during the winter-to-spring months, Ocean Mist Farms can maintain their Gold Standard quality year-round.
To learn more about Ocean Mist Farms, visit www.oceanmist.com. To receive weekly trade information, please sign up HERE. For more recipe inspiration and tips, follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
About Ocean Mist Farms
Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned business in Castroville, CA. and the largest grower of fresh artichokes in North America, is committed to delivering the highest standards in the industry for food safety, product quality, customer service, innovation and sustainability. The company’s full line of over 30 fresh vegetables includes the award-winning Season & Steam and Ocean Mist Organic product lines. To stay up to date on the 2023 artichoke season, follow Ocean Mist on Instagram. To learn more about Ocean Mist Farms, visit www.oceanmist.com/. For recipe inspiration and preparation tips, follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (January 10, 2023) – Ocean Mist Farms is expecting an outstanding 2023 winter artichoke season with abundant volume and excellent quality throughout February and early March. In time to meet shopper demand around healthy eating choices, as well as being a staple ingredient in comfort food during the winter months, this increased supply of artichokes provides retailers an opportunity for a seasonal boost in category sales.
Ocean Mist Farms winter artichoke crop is grown mostly in the Coachella Valley, with smaller volumes coming from farms in Baja, Mexico. The strong volume of artichokes is due in part to growing conditions, with few weather-related interruptions in Coachella. Quality is excellent, with the crop showing an abundance of larger sizes.
“We are expecting excellent quality, with sizes peaking at mostly 12’s and 18’s,” said Ben Wilson, Ocean Mist Farms Artichoke Commodity Manager. “After a smaller than normal holiday crop, our winter crop will provide retailers with excellent promotional opportunities, especially on our largest sizes.”
Ocean Mist Farms will be supporting retail partners during this heavy supply season with a full assortment of merchandising tools, including Ocean Mist Farms’ eye-catching stand-alone display units. The company will also be running a national consumer promotion supported by a strong digital media presence and collaborations with popular food influencers. With this increase in volume just a few weeks away, now is the time for retailers to begin setting up artichoke ads and winter promotions for their shoppers.
“We know this holiday season brought its own set of weather-related challenges for retailers when it came to receiving their supply,” said Rick Bravo, VP of Sales & Marketing at Ocean Mist Farms. “We very much look forward to working with our retail partners and those looking for additional artichoke volume in their stores during our February and March peak harvest.”
For more information, please reach out to contactus@oceanmist.com.
About Ocean Mist Farms
Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned business in Castroville, CA. and the largest grower of fresh artichokes in North America, is committed to delivering the highest standards in the industry for food safety, product quality, customer service, innovation and sustainability. The company’s full line of over 30 fresh vegetables includes the award-winning Season & Steam and Ocean Mist Organic product lines. To stay up to date on the 2023 artichoke season, follow Ocean Mist on Instagram. To learn more about Ocean Mist Farms, visit www.oceanmist.com/. For recipe inspiration and preparation tips, follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (January 10, 2023) – Ocean Mist Farms has the fresh solution for busy families looking to add flavor, color and convenience to their healthy eating New Year resolutions. Consumers can start the new year with Ocean Mist Farms recently expanded fresh-cut vegetable convenience line. The line includes nine unique packs of farm fresh vegetables that are sure to compliment any new year, healthy eating mealtime.
Ocean Mist Farms' Fresh-Cut Retail packs are washed and ready-to-use for a quick and easy microwavable meal prep solution. The labor-saving packs provide shoppers a 100% usable, recipe-ready solution for high-quality, cost-effective meals at home or on the go. All fresh-cut items are grown, harvested, and processed with the same commitment to food safety, quality and flavor customers have come to expect from the Ocean Mist Farms brand for nearly a century.
The Fresh-Cut line now includes:
“Our recently expanded fresh-cut value-added line is the perfect complement to Ocean Mist Farm’s award-winning Season & Steam products. This growing line of value-added vegetable solutions provides consumers an even wider selection of healthy eating options to kick-start 2023,” said Mark Munger, Senior Director of Marketing at Ocean Mist Farms. The company also offers Brussels sprouts, Broccoli florets and the vegetable medley in larger family sized packs.
Ocean Mist Farms encourages retailers to showcase the Fresh-Cut line alongside proteins and other items that can be used to create a quick, easy, and nutritious meal anyone can enjoy. Recipe inspiration may be found on the Ocean Mist Farms website which includes digital cookbooks free to download. To learn more about Ocean Mist Farms’ Fresh-Cut line, please visit www.oceanmist.com/fresh-cut.
About Ocean Mist Farms
Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned business in Castroville, CA. and the largest grower of fresh artichokes in North America, is committed to delivering the highest standards in the industry for food safety, product quality, customer service, innovation and sustainability. The company’s full line of over 30 fresh vegetables includes the award-winning Season & Steam and Ocean Mist Organic product lines. To stay up to date on the 2023 artichoke season, follow Ocean Mist on Instagram. To learn more about Ocean Mist Farms, visit www.oceanmist.com/. For recipe inspiration and preparation tips, follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (November 22, 2022) – Ocean Mist Farms Brussels sprouts are currently headed into the peak fall crop, just in time to meet shopper demand during the busy holiday season. Known for their Gold Standard Artichokes, Ocean Mist Farms also provides high quality, exceptional Brussels sprouts which are being harvested out of Castroville, CA. through January, and will be coming out of Coachella and Mexico beginning in late-December.
“The fall crop is peaking now along the central coast of California, right in time for both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays,” said Mark Munger, Senior Director of Marketing at Ocean Mist Farms. “Although Ocean Mist Farms grows Brussels sprouts year-round, the crop peaks during November, which is a reason Brussels sprouts continue to grow in popularity as a holiday favorite. The season will begin shifting to the Coachella Valley in late December and we expect the central coast harvest to continue well into January. We anticipate a very smooth transition into our desert growing region with supply coming out of all three regions during the December holidays.”
Ocean Mist Farms’ Brussels sprout volume has increased steadily over the last couple of years to meet demand. The company’s release of the “Season & Steam” pack created further interest with this convenient cook-in pack. This past year, as the company has added a wider range of value-added products, including the 16 oz. and 32 oz. family size form & fill packs as well as halved and shredded Brussels sprout packs, demand has risen sharply. During the holidays, Ocean Mist Farms also offers Brussels sprout stalks, a fun way to purchase, display and even cook Brussels sprouts. Stalks are limited to only the holiday season.
According to a recent article, shoppers spend $4.3 million on Brussels sprouts every year at Thanksgiving. This holiday season, Ocean Mist Farms encourages retailers to let their shoppers know this nutrition-rich vegetable may look like cabbage but has a denser texture and milder flavor. When it comes to providing options for shoppers, Ocean Mist Farms has a library of information, recipes, and more for consumers to learn how to prepare and cook their fresh Brussels sprouts. Recipe inspiration includes year-round ideas for weeknight dinners as well as holiday dishes, such as Shredded Brussels Sprouts With Bacon & Pecans, Supershreds Cesar Salad, and Apple Glazed Brussels Sprouts.
“We’ve found that when retailers merchandise a range of pack options, including bulk, packaged whole, and fresh-cut, sales increase significantly,” said Munger. “We also recommend displaying sprouts in the value-added case and also in the wet rack, providing a variety of convenient options within arm’s reach.”
Brussels Sprout options offered for shoppers and operators from Ocean Mist Farms:
Through Ocean Mist Farms rigorous food-safety practices and procedures, the company provides shoppers with only the best quality Brussels sprouts. Shoppers can visit this page for the latest information about where Ocean Mist Farms Brussels sprouts are currently being produced. To learn more about Ocean Mist Farms food safety commitment, click here.
For more information, please reach out to contactus@oceanmist.com.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (October 20, 2022) – Ocean Mist Farms, the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., is pleased to announce Mark Munger has joined Ocean Mist Farms as Senior Director of Marketing. With this hiring, Ocean Mist Farms has brought on an experienced professional with over 36 years in the produce industry.
In his new role, Munger will be responsible for leading the day-to-day management of trade and consumer marketing initiatives at Ocean Mist Farms. Prior to accepting the position, Munger served as VP of Marketing & Strategy at 4Earth Farms, and before that he served as VP of Marketing at Andrew Williamson Fresh Produce. Munger’s career also includes marketing positions with Driscoll’s, the Produce Marketing Association, and various California commodity boards. He earned his BS in Agricultural Science and Management from the University of California, Davis.
“Bringing on a professional of this caliber to lead our marketing team ushers in an exciting time at our company,” said Rick Bravo, VP of Sales & Marketing at Ocean Mist Farms. “With his proven track record and experience in produce marketing, Mark will bring immediate value to Ocean Mist Farms and the marketing and sales teams. His skill set will be instrumental in our overall success.”
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About Ocean Mist Farms
Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned business in Castroville, CA. and the largest grower of fresh artichokes in North America, is committed to delivering the highest standards in the industry for food safety, product quality, customer service, innovation and sustainability. The company’s full line of over 30 fresh vegetables includes the award-winning Season & Steam and Ocean Mist Organic product lines. To stay up to date on the 2022 artichoke season, follow Ocean Mist on Instagram. To learn more about Ocean Mist Farms, visit www.oceanmist.com/. For recipe inspiration and preparation tips, follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (October 19, 2022) – Ocean Mist Farms, the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., will attend IFPA’s Global Produce & Floral Show in Booth #1661 October 27-29, 2022.
Ocean Mist Farms will feature their new Broccoli Slaw and 2lb sizes from the value added product line (Broccoli Florets, Vegetable Medley, and Brussels Sprouts) at the Global Produce & Floral Show. The company will also be showcasing their Gold Standard Artichokes to those who stop by the booth. With artichokes grown in Ocean Mist Farms growing regions of Castroville and Coachella, the company looks forward to showcasing their produce to attendees around the country this month.
“We look forward to being at the Global Show this year and to speak to customers in person about our new Broccoli Slaw and 2lb sizes from our value added product line for the first time,” said Rick Bravo, VP of Sales & Marketing at Ocean Mist Farms. “Being able to present our products with current and potential customers is of the utmost importance to us and we appreciate the opportunity to make these meaningful connections.”
To learn more about Ocean Mist Farms, stop by booth #1661 at the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show October 27-29. For more information, please reach out to contactus@oceanmist.com.
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About Ocean Mist Farms
Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned business in Castroville, CA. and the largest grower of fresh artichokes in North America, is committed to delivering the highest standards in the industry for food safety, product quality, customer service, innovation and sustainability. The company’s full line of over 30 fresh vegetables includes the award-winning Season & Steam and Ocean Mist Organic product lines. To stay up to date on the 2022 artichoke season, follow Ocean Mist on Instagram. To learn more about Ocean Mist Farms, visit www.oceanmist.com/. For recipe inspiration and preparation tips, follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (May 12, 2022) – Ocean Mist Farms, the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., continues to emphasize education for students, media, and influencers as a pillar of the company’s marketing efforts. Remaining true to the Company’s purpose of fueling health and happiness through foods that matter, experiencing a vegetable harvest firsthand in the field serves to not simply educate, but builds a brand connection with these different audiences who will spread the word of what they learned and as well as deepen their perspective and understanding of California agriculture.
“Although we share photos and videos on a weekly basis on our social and email channels, nothing takes the place of an immersive field or cooler visit,”: said Diana McClean, Senior Director of Marketing of Ocean Mist Farms. “Our commitment to sharing what is unique about our cultivation practices and giving visitors a chance to harvest an artichoke and speak directly with the grower is a memorable experience that informs each visitor's future relationship with Ocean Mist Farms, artichokes, and field-fresh vegetables in general.”
Most recently, influencers and culinary students have taken to the Ocean Mist Farms’ fields in Castroville, California to learn about the Gold Standard of Artichokes®' designation and experience both an artichoke and iceberg lettuce harvest. As part of the immersive experience, for those willing and able, Ocean Mist Farms provides canastas, or baskets, to try and harvest a few artichokes themselves to understand the depth of skill and technique needed to ensure that only The Gold Standard of Artichoke(s) is harvested and delivered to grocery stores in North America.
“With each of these educational experiences, the role that Salinas and Castroville growing region plays in California’s agricultural production is elevated and more broadly appreciated,” said McClean. For more information on how to include Ocean Mist Farms Gold Standard artichokes and other fresh vegetables in your store, please reach out to contactus@oceanmist.com.
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About Ocean Mist Farms
Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned business in Castroville, CA. and the largest grower of fresh artichokes in North America, is committed to delivering the highest standards in the industry for food safety, product quality, customer service, innovation and sustainability. The company’s full line of over thirty fresh vegetables includes the award-winning Season & Steam and Ocean Mist Organic product lines. To stay up to date on the 2022 artichoke season, follow Ocean Mist on Instagram. To learn more about Ocean Mist Farms, visit www.oceanmist.com/. For recipe inspiration and preparation tips, follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (April 12, 2022) – Ocean Mist Farms, the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the United States, celebrates the 98th year of growing the flagship crop in the Castroville, CA growing region. This nearly century-long commitment to bringing customers and shoppers the very best artichokes available has earned Ocean Mist Farms the reputation for being the Gold Standard of Artichokes®.
“While our company’s artichoke farming legacy began in the Mediterranean-like climate of central California over nine decades ago, we are very proud of our ability to successfully expand our proprietary artichoke program to the Coachella Valley during the winter months,” said Diana McClean, Senior Director of Marketing of Ocean Mist Farms.
“Our team worked tirelessly to develop just the right seed variety for Southern California’s desert climate to expand the availability of our Gold Standard quality artichokes year-round. Now, with our third purple artichoke season under our belt, we look forward to continuing to develop innovative ways to share this iconic Italian vegetable with shoppers across the country.”
Commitment to Gold Standard
Ocean Mist Farms' vertically integrated operations means the company oversees every stage of the artichoke production process. From seed R&D, land selection, cultivation and planting all the way to harvesting, processing, cooling and distribution, Ocean Mist Farms maintains Gold Standard best practices at every step in the farming and distribution supply chain.
Shopper Touchpoint
Ocean Mist Farms also brings a Gold Standard level of attention and detail to shopper education, offering retail partners a robust library of petal inserts, shelf tags, display bins and recipe cards that provide high impact visibility for artichokes in the produce department. “We also work with chefs and influencers to create simple artichoke recipes and cooking class videos that align with today’s diet trends like gluten free and vegan and cooking trends such as the Instant Pot,” shared McClean. “Then we share these recipes and videos with our mailing list of nearly 100,000 consumers!”
For more information on the Gold Standard or to include Ocean Mist Farms Gold Standard artichokes in your store, please reach out to contactus@oceanmist.com.
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About Ocean Mist Farms
Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned business in Castroville, CA. and the largest grower of fresh artichokes in North America, is committed to delivering the highest standards in the industry for food safety, product quality, customer service, innovation and sustainability. The company’s full line of over 30 fresh vegetables includes the award-winning Season & Steam and Ocean Mist Organic product lines. To stay up to date on the 2021 artichoke season, follow Ocean Mist on Instagram. To learn more about Ocean Mist Farms, visit www.oceanmist.com/. For recipe inspiration and preparation tips, follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
