CASTROVILLE, Calif. (Dec. 20, 2021) – Ocean Mist Farms, the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes, welcomes the first Frost Kissed® crop of the season. The Frost Kissed artichokes are shipping now and will be intermittently available throughout the winter. Each Frost Kissed® Artichoke includes a petal insert to let the shopper know about this unique condition.
Once the temperature drops below 32 degrees, the artichokes’ skin darkens due to the freezing conditions, which seals in more flavor and provides a nuttier flavor profile for Ocean Mist Farms’ Frost Kissed artichokes. While this limited time offering has a slightly darker exterior, the brown outer layer peels off once cooked resulting in the green artichoke shoppers are familiar with.“Frost Kissed artichokes offer a unique flavor for a limited time that many shoppers look forward to experiencing when available,” said Diana McClean, senior director of marketing at Ocean Mist Farms. “These artichokes have a unique color to them that is strictly cosmetic and does not impact the quality and actually intensifies the artichoke flavor that artichoke aficionados enjoy.”
In an effort to elevate the Frost Kissed artichokes as a satisfying menu item, Ocean Mist Farms will provide recipe inspiration through its social media channels, as well as sharing information on the website to educate consumers. All Frost Kissed artichokes are packed with a Frost Kissed® petal insert so shoppers can easily recognize them on shelf, and Frost Kissed POS materials are available for order on the Ocean Mist Farms’ website HERE.
“The Frost Kissed artichokes are a seasonal treat we look forward to as we don’t see a freeze every season,” added McClean. “This fall, we’re working to ensure our shoppers are educated on ways to prep the artichoke so they too can enjoy its unique flavor for a limited time when they are available.”
For additional Frost Kissed® inspiration and to learn more, visit www.oceanmist.com/products/frost-kissed-artichokes and follow the brand on Instagram, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
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About Ocean Mist Farms
Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned business based 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.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (December 13, 2021) – Ocean Mist Farms, the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., will showcase its conventional & organic commodity lines and feature the Season & Steam product line extension in the “New Product Showcase” at this year’s New York Produce Show in booth #242.
The value-added Season & Steam product line extension includes five new additions to the award-winning microwavable cut vegetable product line. The entire line includes 10 varieties, each with the same convenience, customizable seasoning and exclusive resealable bag technology shoppers love.“We look forward to being back at the New York Produce Show and to speak to customers in person about our Season & Steam product line extension for the first time,” said Diana McClean, senior director of marketing at Ocean Mist Farms. “We had great engagement and conversations with our trade partners in 2019 considering the Northeast is known for its heavy distribution of artichokes. This show gives us a great opportunity for us to put our new items from Season & Steam on display.”
The Season & Steam varieties from Ocean Mist Farms include:
To learn more about Ocean Mist Farms, stop by booth #242 at the New York Produce Show December 13-16 or visit https://www.oceanmist.com/trade-resources. For recipe inspiration and preparation tips, follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
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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.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (December 7, 2021) – Ocean Mist Farms, the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., is pleased to announce Jeff Hutterer has joined Ocean Mist Farms as Director of Value-Added Sales and Christa Schuck has joined as Sales Representative.
As Director of Value-Added Sales, Hutterer will be responsible for developing value-added business for Ocean Mist Farms. Prior to accepting the position, Hutterer served as Director of Retail Sales at Mann Packing. He earned his Bachelor of Science, Marketing at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
“We are glad to have Jeff join our team and to have his experience in developing our value-added business,” said Rick Bravo, VP of Sales & Marketing at Ocean Mist Farms. “With his experience, he will make us stronger, and we look forward to his work with us.”
In her new role as Sales Representative, Schuck will work closely with Director of Sales, Joseph Angelo, to develop Ocean Mist Farms’ foodservice customer portfolio. Prior to joining Ocean Mist Farms, Schuck served as Senior Director of Foodservice Sales / National Account Manager at Tanimura & Antle Fresh Foods, Inc. She earned her B.S. in Agricultural Business – Marketing from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA.
“With Schuck’s vast experience, we look forward to the impact she will have at Ocean Mist Farms,” said Joseph Angelo, Director of Sales at Ocean Mist Farms.
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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.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (October 14, 2021) – Ocean Mist Farms, the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S. and premium supplier of fresh vegetables for nearly 100 years, is pleased to announce the promotion of Christopher Drew to President and Chief Executive Officer.
In his new role, Drew will be responsible for leading all commercial, operational, financial, and administrative aspects of Ocean Mist Farms. Drew will provide a clear vision allowing for organizational growth and financial success in addition to fostering innovation and cultivating strong relationships internally and with external stakeholders. His role as President and CEO will require the analysis and evaluation of product line offerings, building business plans to drive expansion, and ensuring Ocean Mist Farms has the proper infrastructure to support such growth.
The Board of Directors unanimously selected Drew from among many distinguished Produce and Consumer Packaged Goods executives sourced through a national search conducted by executive search partner Kincannon & Reed.
“Chris has been integral to executing the strategic growth plan and Ocean Mist Farm’s vision of becoming the partner of choice for produce solutions in his role of Chief Operating Officer here,” commented Kirk Martin, Ocean Mist’s Board Chair. “His history with our company spans nearly two decades in various roles and his knowledge base is unparalleled. The passion he has for this industry and our organization is apparent and we are confident he will be instrumental in the future success of Ocean Mist Farms.”
In his previous role as COO, Drew collaborated with teams across the organization to streamline strategies and processes in addition to overseeing the operational departments and facilities across the organization: cooling, shipping, production, harvesting, food safety, quality assurance, and value-added operations.
Prior to joining Ocean Mist Farms, Drew earned his Bachelor of Science in Crop Science from California Polytechnic University – San Luis Obispo followed by his Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix – San Jose.
Drew is active in several affiliations including the Cal Poly - SLO Horticulture and Crop Science Advisory Council, where he is Chairman of the Board and is a member of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement Advisory Board among others.
“Chris embodies the spirit of Ocean Mist Farms and embraces our company values,” Martin commented. “We are excited to be a part of this next chapter with him.”
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About Ocean Mist Farms
Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned business based 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.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (October 14, 2021) – Ocean Mist Farms, the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., welcomes the Cardone vegetable for retail distribution and shopper consumption ahead of the annual holiday season.
“Cardone is an Italian favorite that we seasonally grow between October and Jan in two California regions, Castroville and Coachella,” said Diana McClean, Senior Director of Marketing at Ocean Mist Farms. “We take pride in growing Cardone that is extremely tender with a robust flavor, anticipated each holiday season Ocean Mist Farms Cardone is among the finest examples of the vegetable in North America and is anticipated each year by home cooks and professional chefs alike.”
Ocean Mist Farms provides tips, like storage and eating, as well as recipes for how to incorporate Cardone into weeknight meals on their website for shoppers to learn more about the multifaceted vegetable.
Cardone, also known as Cardoon, is a traditional Mediterranean vegetable considered a delicacy by many who specialize in traditional French and Italian cuisine. A cousin of the artichoke, Cardone has an edible stalk like celery; however, it is not eaten raw. The best Cardone stalks are a grey-green color very similar in color to the artichoke plant. Stalks should feel heavy and moist. They will not be crisp like celery.
The Cardone stalk is hand-harvested from the plant and packed and cooled within four hours. Ocean Mist Farms’ strict cut-to-cool standards ensure quality product is delivered to retail stores. To learn more about Cardone and Ocean Mist Farms, please visit https://www.oceanmist.com/products/cardone.
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About Ocean Mist Farms
Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned business based 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.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (September 21, 2021) – Ocean Mist Farms, the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., has the perfect fresh solution for busy families this fall with five new additions to the award-winning microwavable cut vegetable product line, Season & Steam. The line includes 10 varieties that are sure to spice up dinner time, each with the same convenience, customizable seasoning and exclusive resealable bag technology shoppers already love.
The varieties include:
“We’ve found busy families want Season & Steam because of the packaging technology that uniquely allows them to customize seasoning for their personal taste preferences and reseal the microwavable bag prior to cooking,” said Diana McClean, Senior Director of Marketing at Ocean Mist Farms.
Per the FMI’s “Power of Produce 2021” study, value-added produce items have increased 8.1% to reach $15.5 billion in sales, with an 11.4% increase for vegetables in 2020 versus a year ago. More shoppers (37%) purchased value-added vegetables frequently or whenever available, and shopper expectations point to accelerated growth in the year to come.
Recipe Inspiration
The Season & Steam line is completely customizable and includes endless ways to make a meal for everyone. In line with this thinking, Ocean Mist Farms has launched their fall “Meals in Minutes” campaign driving home this point with a variety of recipe options to choose from. In addition to this, Ocean Mist Farms provides shoppers with recipes and cooking class videos year-round at www.oceanmist.com/season-steam-meal-inspiration.
This is the only steam bag that gives the option to pre-season your vegetables, reseal and steam by microwave all within the same bag. This exclusive technology is available for artichokes, sweet baby broccoli, broccoli, cauliflower, vegetable medleys, and three Brussels sprouts items (SuperShreds SuperFood®, Quick Cook Sprouts® and Microwavable Wholes).
Recipes are inspired by culinary flavors that can be found around the world, including:
To build consumer awareness and demand for this easy-to-use and customizable product line, Ocean Mist Farms will engage a wider audience with a fall consumer promotion and sweepstakes that will engage shopper audiences and drive store traffic. To learn more about Season & Steam, please visit oceanmist.com/products/season-steam. Ocean Mist Farms, please visit www.oceanmist.com/.
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About Ocean Mist Farms
Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned business based 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.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (August 19, 2021) – Ocean Mist Farms, the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., is once again investing in partnerships with national influencers for the 2021-2022 crop year. Ocean Mist Farms will partner with The Real Food Dietitians, What Great Grandma Ate and Food With Feeling to create entertaining and educational content and expand the brand’s reach to new audiences.
“We are pleased to announce our influencer partnerships for the next 12 months, , which includes previous partners as well as some new faces as we continue to evolve our reach with our influencer program,” said Diana McClean, Senior Director of Marketing for Ocean Mist Farms. “This year, we will be expanding the program further with the addition of more TikTok influencers over the next few months. We’re excited to have this additional engaging platform to share our brand story with shoppers.”
The influencer partners chosen cover a wide range of audiences. The Real Food Dietitians are registered nutritionists and dietitians who create credible and nutritious dishes, while What Great Grandma Ate and Food With Feeling are creating TikTok and Instagram Reel content to continue driving brand and product awareness across every platform.
For more information and to stay up-to-date on these partnerships, follow Ocean Mist Farms on social media or visit the website at: www.oceanmist.com.
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About Ocean Mist Farms
Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned business based 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.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (July 21, 2021) – Ocean Mist Farms, the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., is pleased to announce the 2021 scholarship recipients. Since 2018, the Ocean Mist Farms Academic Scholarship Program annually awards seven scholarships to recipients who demonstrate the guiding values of Ocean Mist Farms – integrity, quality, passion, and success – with $1,000 toward their college tuition.
“We are thrilled to announce our scholarship recipients for the class of 2021,” said Jonelle Wong, Scholarship Committee Chairperson at Ocean Mist Farms. “At Ocean Mist Farms, one of the most rewarding things we do each year is to support our local students through this scholarship program. We look forward to continuing in this tradition of recognizing students for their hard work for years to come.”
After reviewing 23 applications, the committee selected seven students to receive the $1,000 scholarship:
The scholarships are open to local residents of Monterey, Riverside, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties. Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA or higher, and submissions require an essay, letters of reference, completed scholarship application and proof of higher education acceptance.
For more information, please view the application and full list of requirements at: oceanmist.com/scholarship-program.
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About Ocean Mist Farms
Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned business 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.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (June 14, 2021) – Ocean Mist Farms, the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., is pleased to announce Louis Rakoczy has joined Ocean Mist Farms as Chief Finance Officer and Kevin Healy has joined as the new Grower Relations Manager.
As CFO, Rakoczy will oversee the Accounting, Finance and Information Technology departments to include Risk Management and Tax & Audit practices. Prior to joining Ocean Mist Farms, Rakoczy spent 25 years in finance and was previously Sr. VP of Finance with Curation Foods / Landec Corp. Louis graduated with a degree in Math and Operations Research with a Specialization in Computing from the University of California, Los Angeles.
“We are glad to have Louis join our team in this key role,” said Joe Pezzini, CEO and President of Ocean Mist Farms. “We look forward to the experience Louis brings to this role and the impact he will make for the company.”
In his new role as Grower Relations Manager, Healy will be responsible for emerging and cultivating relationships with the company’s grower partner community. Prior to his new position, Healy was the VP of Operations for Sambrailo Packaging. Healy has been actively involved in agri-business for more than 25 years and earned his Master of Science degree in Agriculture, with a specialization in Crop Science from Cal Poly.
“With Kevin’s prior experience and years in the industry at hand, we know his impact as Grower Relations Manager will be instrumental to Ocean Mist Farms' future success,” said Paul Scheid VP of Production of Ocean Mist Farms.
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About Ocean Mist Farms
Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned business 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.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (June 09, 2021) – Ocean Mist Farms has announced that CEO / President, Joe Pezzini will step down from this role effective June 30, 2021. Mr. Pezzini has been a consistent face and voice of this nearly 100-year-old brand for 21 years, and his legacy will be evident as the Company moves forward toward their centennial celebration.
“There is never a good time to make a change of this magnitude. Ocean Mist Farms will celebrate its centennial in 2024. In that long and rich history, we have grown from very humble beginnings in 1924 to a full-service year-round supplier of the finest artichokes and fresh produce. I am proud to have been a part of that journey along with all the other Ocean Mist Farms team members over the years,” comments Joe.
An executive committee and senior management team is in place to continue the success of this well-known Company during this transition. “This is a very significant change for Ocean Mist Farms, however, I have no doubt that the service and supply expectations that the industry has come to expect from the Ocean Mist Farms brand will continue at the highest levels,” comments Kirk Martin, Chairman of the Board. “On behalf of the Board and the family owners of Ocean Mist Farms, we thank Joe for his steadfast service and leadership. We will miss his passion, professionalism and commitment to our collective success. In the meantime, we will move forward with confidence in our growers, people and leadership team to continue to serve the needs of our customers and stakeholders as a valued produce solutions provider. “
The Company has initiated an executive search for Joe’s successor. Please help us to wish Joe success in his future endeavors as we look forward to continuing our connection with this Ag Industry Legend.
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About Ocean Mist Farms
Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned business 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.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (June 1, 2021) – Ocean Mist Farms, the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., recently concluded its two annual promotions: Peace, Love & Artichoke winter promotion (February 15 - March 15, 2021) and the annual Gold Standard spring promotion (April 19 - May 19, 2021). Since 2019 these annual promotions have grown engagement with Ocean Mist Farms consumer audience - proving there is an audience ready for information about fresh artichokes. As a result, Ocean Mist Farms has realized a 5% increase YOY in artichoke cases sold over the duration of the two promotions.
Consumer response to the 3rd annual Gold Standard promotion proved shoppers were receptive to and eager to engage with helpful and entertaining content. With the third year of the promotion complete, Ocean Mist Farms earned a total of:
“These annual promotions are proof that there is an audience hungry for inspiration and education with both Ocean Mist Farms, and artichokes,” said Diana McClean, senior director of marketing at Ocean Mist Farms. “Because of the tremendous consumer following we’ve developed, we have become a reliable and trusted resource for artichoke information that encourages shoppers to purchase Ocean Mist Farms artichokes for health benefits, eating experience and from a trusted supplier of the highest quality of fresh produce.”
The response to the Coachella Peace, Love & Artichoke also saw dramatic response and engagement from shoppers. With the third year of the promotion complete, Ocean Mist Farms earned a total of:
With these promotions and other marketing efforts to shoppers, we have seen above average performance confirming that people do look to fresh produce brands for information and inspiration. Whether it be news about nutrition benefits, how to keep their produce fresh or different ways to spice up their dinner routine, we have continued to grow this engaged shopper audience.
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About Ocean Mist Farms
Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned business 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.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (May 5, 2021) – Ocean Mist Farms (OMF), the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., is pleased to announce the hiring of John Georgalos as Sales Commodity Manager. In this role, Georgalos will be responsible for managing iceberg lettuce, Ocean Mist Farms’ leaf program (red, green and romaine), and will handle select key accounts for the company.
“We are glad to have John join our team and have a key role in our iceberg and leaf programs,” said Joseph Angelo, Director of Sales of Ocean Mist Farms. “With his experience, he will make us stronger and bring value in the day-to-day management of our operations.”
Prior to accepting the position, Georgalos served as Commodity Manager at Tanimura & Antle for 16 years. Georgalos earned his Associates degree at Hartnell College and has since taken sales classes at Pete Purcell Sales School and an intensive Marketing Class at Cornell University.
“I look forward to being part of the Ocean Mist Farms team,” said Georgalos. “I’m honored to work with this team and make a difference along the way.”
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About Ocean Mist Farms
Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned business 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 2020 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 19, 2021) – Ocean Mist Farms, the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., announces the launch of its annual spring promotion elevating the health and nutrition of their famous Gold Standard artichokes. Ocean Mist Farms is building on the 24,762,290 consumer impressions achieved with the Gold Standard promotion over the last two years - proving there is an audience ready for artichoke engagement and information sharing.
With this promotion, Ocean Mist Farms will highlight their artichoke expertise to assure their trade partners are aware of what goes into the Gold Standard distinction as well as shine a light on the phenomenal nutritional qualities of fresh artichokes and the value that can bring to their shoppers.
“In the midst of an uncertain year, we are proud to share one of the few things we know for certain, our Gold Standard artichokes,” said Diana McClean, senior director of marketing at Ocean Mist Farms. “Ocean Mist Farms artichokes are THE Gold Standard for superior immune boosting nutrition and a top source of fiber, as one whole, cooked artichoke packs nearly 7 grams of fiber, about a third of the daily minimum target. Today, more than ever, this superior nutrition coupled with Ocean Mist Farms artichoke expertise brings the Gold Standard to your produce department.”
For nearly 100 years, Ocean Mist Farms has cultivated artichokes in California and has harnessed the expertise to claim the Gold Standard distinction. This legacy and experience are defined by their unique growing and harvesting practices, and steadfast commitment to care for the community and land. Chosen for its optimal soil and microclimate, Castroville, CA is home to Ocean Mist Farms’ spring artichoke production, with the heaviest supply production being in April. “Artichoke ad volumes are available as we want to make certain that our shoppers have easy access to the nutrition we are promoting,” comments Philip Barrientos, Artichoke Commodity Manager.
Ocean Mist Farms is supporting retail sales for the Gold Standard promotion with a variety of marketing activations centered on the premium standard of artichokes they are known for. On-pack messaging will reinforce shopper awareness of Ocean Mist Farms branded artichokes and their Gold Standard commitment. The brand will also drive visitors to the artichoke nutrition webpage and encourage shoppers to purchase artichokes at their local grocery store with the help of the new Destini locator tool found on www.oceanmist.com.
To further engage with consumers, Ocean Mist Farms is hosting the Gold Standard Giveaway from April 19 - May 14, giving participants the opportunity to win 20 prizes for a grand total of $2000, including 20 $100 gift cards.
Earlier this year, Ocean Mist Farms conducted its annual Peace, Love & Artichoke promotion from February 15 - March 15 to kick-off the 2021 Coachella artichoke season. Consumer response to the Peace, Love & Artichoke promotion proved shoppers were receptive to and eager to engage with helpful and entertaining content. With this promotion, Ocean Mist Farms earned a total of 391,728,968 brand impressions and 177,688 promotion-specific website visits, and 29,154 shoppers participated in the sweepstakes opportunity.
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About Ocean Mist Farms
Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned business 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 2020 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.
Artie & Viola Return For A 2nd Annual Social Media Promotion Supporting The Limited Variety 
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (March 15, 2021) – Ocean Mist Farms, the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., announces the arrival of the second season of their proprietary purple artichokes. This limited addition to the Ocean Mist Farms artichoke family is supported by a social media promotion in tandem with the season.
Ocean Mist Farms is supporting retail sales for the purple artichokes with a variety of marketing activations to highlight this unique “limited edition “variety and drive purchase intent. Alongside adding this unique item to the store locator on the website, Ocean Mist Farms has a second chapter to the 2020 Arti and Viola social media promotion. This promotion, “Arti’s Spring Fling” continues the summer romance from last season with Viola returning to visit Arti the Artichoke, Ocean Mist Farms’ artichoke mascot.
The social media storyline will unfold over the course of four weeks and encourage consumers to follow along. Shoppers are invited to comment and like each promotion post for a chance to win a $100 gift card.
“We are happy to re-introduce this new variety of artichokes with our customers through an engaging promotion once again,” said Diana McClean, senior director of marketing at Ocean Mist Farms. “Not only are they striking in appearance, but we’ve found these artichokes to have a superior texture when steamed, and are as flavorful and meaty as the original Castroville Green Globe artichoke.”
This year, Ocean Mist Farms is introducing a 4-count clamshell packed with size 30 (medium) artichokes. This is in addition to the loose artichokes with the tag. The purple artichokes are a colorful variety selected for superior flavor and appearance. Grown in Castroville, CA., Ocean Mist Farms expects the heaviest production period to be March 15 – April 30.
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. This artichoke variety tends to grow towards the large and medium sizes with limited jumbos.
For interest in purchasing the purple artichokes for retail, please contact a member of our sales team by calling 831-633-2144.
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About Ocean Mist Farms
Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned business 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 2020 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 onFacebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (March 1, 2021) – 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 addition 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 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. This artichoke variety tends to grow towards the large and mediums sizes (rather than jumbo).
This year, Ocean Mist Farms is introducing a 4-count clamshell packed with size 30 (medium) artichokes. This is in addition to the loose artichokes with the tag (pictured above).
WHEN: Ocean Mist Farms expects the heaviest production period to be March 15 – April 30
WHERE: Grown in Castroville, California and available nationwide
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About Ocean Mist Farms
Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned business 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 2020 artichoke season, follow Ocean Mist on Instagram. To learn more about Ocean Mist Farms, visit https://www.oceanmist.com/. For recipe inspiration and preparation tips, follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (February 15, 2021) – Ocean Mist Farms, the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., launches the Coachella artichoke production season with the 3rd annual Peace, Love & Artichokes winter promotion. This multifaceted campaign, launching today and lasting through March 15, includes email marketing to a robust community of artichoke shoppers and produce buyers, social media advertising, and sweepstakes prizes – all to drive sales and in-store demand.
With this promotion, Ocean Mist Farms is leveraging an upward trend of artichoke sales in late winter and continuing to push the artichoke momentum forward. While aiming to increase consumption, Ocean Mist Farms is looking to also educate consumers on the health benefits, such as immunity boosting properties, that premium winter artichokes can hold and that shoppers are increasingly looking for in the foods they choose to eat.
“I have never seen our artichoke fields look so robust, and producing such big plants at this time of year,” said Jeff Percy, VP Production in Coachella for Ocean Mist Farms. “Big plants like these are good for both the buyer and consumer. The desert heat has made them a bit later than last year, but one of the most unique situations we have ever had!”
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 desert-grown 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 is able to maintain their high-quality standards year-round.
“We want consumers to know that our artichokes are grown to deliver consistent flavor as well as premium health benefits,” said Diana McClean, senior director of marketing at Ocean Mist Farms. “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.”
Ocean Mist Farms will be issuing video field reports as part of their Trade Email campaign, to show off Coachella artichoke production during February. To ensure artichokes are a prominent fixture during this promotion, please visit our POS order page HERE to receive an artichoke display bin and sweepstakes sleeve.
To further incentivize shoppers, participants can enter the Peace, Love & Artichokes Sweepstakes for a chance to win prizes. There will be 15 Grand Prize winners who will receive an Instant Pot Duo Nova Pressure Cooker 7 in 1, and 25 winners who will receive a Peace, Love, & Artichoke Swag Packs.
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.
