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.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (November 18, 2020) – Ocean Mist Farms (OMF), the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., is proud to announce Progressive Grocer’s has named Kevin Tottino, value added manager at Ocean Mist Farms, a recipient of the third annual GenNext Award.
This award recognizes individuals under the age of 40 who have demonstrated a commitment to a career in either the grocery or CPG industries; innovation through the work they are doing; leadership, including the capacity to inspire and lead others, a commitment to learn from others; and a commitment to getting involved in the industry, helping through charities or in the community, and bringing the industry into the future.
“We are very proud of the work Kevin has done here at Ocean Mist Farms and congratulate him on this well-deserved award,” said Chris Drew, Chief Operations Officer of Ocean Mist Farms. “Kevin has an innate sense for product innovation for the products we grow and his passion to support the local community where he lives and works, along with many others from the organization, is a heartfelt responsibility.”
For nearly 10 years, Tottino has built and managed the value-added operation of Ocean Mist Farms, the next generation focus for this nearly 100-year-old company, and shepherded the introduction of the first Ocean Mist Farms value added item, Season & Steam Artichokes. His ingenuity with production, and his innate sense for product innovation and consumer demand, made him an ideal candidate for the GenNext Award.
When he’s not at work, Tottino serves on the Annual Castroville Artichoke Festival Board of Directors and has been involved in this annual community outreach event since he was a child.
Tottino’s role as the 4th generation of a nearly 100-year-old family business allows for his forward-thinking perspective to have a unique forum.
“I am honored to be recognized in this way and am humbled to be among the other nominees in this category,” said Tottino. “I will take this recognition as a sign that I’m right where I need to be. I look forward to many more years of serving my community and Ocean Mist Farms.”
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (Nov. 10, 2020) – 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 currently being shipped to retailers and will be intermittently available throughout the winter.
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 taste pronounced in the Frost Kissed artichokes. While this limited time offering has a slightly darker exterior, the brown outer layer falls 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 after a frost,” 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 reflect the quality that are shoppers are accustomed to.”
In an effort to elevate the Frost Kissed artichokes as a satisfying menu item, Ocean Mist Farms will be providing recipe inspiration through its social media channels, as well as sharing information on the website to educate consumers. Additionally, the Frost Kissed artichokes will carry a petal insert so shoppers can easily recognize them and Frost Kissed POS materials are available for order on the oceanmist.com website here, https://www.oceanmist.com/pos-frost-kissed-artichokes.
“The Frost Kissed artichokes are such a seasonal treat as we don’t see a freeze every season,” added McClean. “This fall, while more meals are being prepared at home, 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 https://www.oceanmist.com/products/frost-kissed-artichokes and follow the brand on Instagram, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (October 12, 2020) – Ocean Mist Farms (OMF), the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., is pleased to announce the hiring of Jesse Lopez as commodity account manager. In this role, Lopez will work closely with Joe Angelo and the rest of the sales team, as well as current commodity, field, and harvest managers.
“We are glad to have someone of Jesse’s caliber join our team,” said Joe Angelo, director of sales at Ocean Mist Farms. “With his veteran experience, he will add immediate strength and value to our team.”
Lopez will handle key retail and wholesale accounts and work with promotion and pricing, touching many aspects of the business. In his previous role, Lopez was a sr. account manager, director of business development with Tanimura & Antle for 15 years.
“I’m excited to be joining the Ocean Mist Farms team,” said Lopez. “and look forward to working with one of the leading commodity shippers in California.”
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (September 28, 2020) – Ocean Mist Farms, the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in North America, announces the launch of five new products in their award-winning Season & Steam convenience vegetable line. All five new items are among the top ten value-added vegetables to post growth in the past year according to a July 2020 Nielsen Answers on Demand report.
The new Season & Steam items include: Broccoli Florets, Floret Medley, Vegetable Medley, Cauliflower Florets and Cauliflower Rice - all with the same convenience, customizable seasoning and exclusive resealable bag technology shoppers already love. The new item roll-out comes after a recent Nielsen Concept Test where more than half of respondents indicated they would “definitely” or “probably” purchase a Season & Steam product compared to other fresh and frozen vegetable concepts.
“We’ve found shoppers want Season & Steam because the technology uniquely allows them to add their own seasoning and reseal the microwavable bag prior to cooking,” said Diana McClean, Senior Director of Marketing at Ocean Mist Farms. “We are excited to extend the line and include more options for our shoppers to add convenience and a personal touch to their meals.”
According to the United Fresh Nielsen FreshFacts on Retail Q1 2020 Report, in the current COVID-19 climate, consumers increasingly value convenience, nutrition, and the ability to cook vegetables before consumption due to the perception of being less risky. The report also found value-added vegetables, including Brussels sprouts - the cornerstone of the Season & Steam line - have consistently shown year over year sales growth since 2017.
The new products will be available to ship November 1, 2020. To learn more about Ocean Mist Farms, please visit www.oceanmist.com/.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (August 24, 2020) – Ocean Mist Farms (OMF), the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., is pleased to announce the promotions of Chris Drew to Chief Operations Officer and Gladys Valenzuela - Corzo to Vice President of Human Resources.
In his new role as COO, Drew will oversee both production and harvesting as part of his expanded operations role. For the past sixteen years, Drew has enjoyed a career with OMF where he utilized and expanded on his background in production agriculture. Before assuming the role of COO, Drew was the Vice President of Operations for the past three years.
Prior to joining OMF, Drew earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Crop Science from California Polytechnic University – San Luis Obispo as well as an MBA. He maintains a strong relationship with the university and acts as chairman of the Horticulture and Crop Science Advisory Council where he and industry colleagues help to provide insight into today’s trends and challenges in production agriculture.
“Chris’ depth of knowledge for all facets of our operation makes him ready for his expanded role as our new Chief Operations Officer,” said Joe Pezzini, CEO of Ocean Mist Farms.
In her new role as Vice President of Human Resources, Valenzuela - Corzo will play an expanded role in strategic planning. Before assuming her new position, Valenzuela - Corzo joined OMF in May 2015 as Director of Human Resources. She has an extensive HR background, with 17 years of progressive human resources leadership experience in Ag and the Publishing/Media industry.
Prior to joining OMF, Valenzuela - Corzo earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Economics and Business Administration from Saint Mary’s College of California and a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from Chapman University.
“Gladys' passion for Human Resources and broad expertise are the right combination for her promotion as Vice President of Human Resources,” said Pezzini.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (June 30, 2020) – Ocean Mist Farms, the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., announces the Blue Zones Project approval of their Monterey worksite. Ocean Mist Farms received approval in May 2020 after meeting 78 points on the worksite pledge and engaging 44% of their staff in a Blue Zones Project activity (88 individuals).
“This is a huge accomplishment for Ocean Mist Farms,” said Lupita Renteria-Galvan, HR Benefits Manager and the Wellness Committee Chair, at Ocean Mist Farms. “Becoming an approved worksite demonstrates the commitment you have to your employees’ health and well-being. Ocean Mist Farms is recognized as a community leader in workplace wellness and joins a network of respected organizations across our community.”With this recognition, Ocean Mist Farms is the 5th largest employer to become an approved worksite. They are represented among respected organizations such as Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System, Taylor Farms Headquarters, Montage Health, VNA, and the Monterey County Office of Education.
Ocean Mist Farms’ well-being initiatives and accomplishments include the following:
Together, Blue Zones Project Monterey County and Ocean Mist Farms will continue the work of empowering employees to take charge of their health through continued Blue Zones Project activities and principals.
To learn more about how you can get involved in Blue Zones Project Monterey County, visit their website at montereycounty.bluezonesproject.com.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (June 16, 2020) – Ocean Mist Farms, the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., conducted its annual Gold Standard spring promotion from April 13 - May 13 this year to elevate the health and nutrition of their famous Gold Standard artichokes. This promotion was launched during a nation-wide shut down due to COVID-19, an uncertain time that still remains. Yet despite these circumstances, the promotion yielded incredible results.
Consumer response to the Gold Standard promotion proved shoppers were receptive to and eager to engage with helpful and entertaining content. Ocean Mist Farms earned a total of 23,000,000 brand impressions and 545,000 promotion-specific website visits, while over 28,000 shoppers participated in the sweepstakes opportunity. As a result, when looking at year-over-year artichoke sales volume for the 4-week Gold Standard promotion period, we see an increase 3.6% for the 2020 season.
“We questioned if now was the right time to run this annual promotion,” said Diana McClean, senior director of marketing at Ocean Mist Farms. “Because of the tremendous consumer following we’ve developed that relies on Ocean Mist Farms, we wanted to not only encourage consumers to purchase artichokes for their health benefits, but to also assure them that the produce they are purchasing is of the highest quality.”
With this promotion and our other marketing efforts to shoppers during the nation-wide shut down, we have seen above average performance confirming that people do look to fresh produce brands for information and inspiration. Whether it be a welcome of news related to how to keep their produce fresh or different ways to spice up their dinner routine, we’re finding a new, more engaged audience during this time.
