Ocean Mist Farms was established 100 years ago in 1924 when founding members Daniel Pieri, cousins Amerigo and Angelo Del Chiaros and Jim Bellone immigrated from Italy and landed in Castroville, California. There, they partnered with local vegetable grower, Alfred Tottino, and formed the California Artichoke & Vegetable Growers Corp. In 1995, the company rebranded as Ocean Mist Farms.
Early days with the artichoke harvest crew.
In the early days business was conducted in a rustic tin-roofed shed with no electricity, and no telephones, and business was done with a handshake. The first crops were artichokes, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli.
They realized the area in Castroville provided a trifecta of year-round sun, fertile nutrient-rich soil, and fog which provided natural air conditioning to the fields. These factors create one of the few Mediterranean climates in the country, which these founding fathers knew artichokes loved and thrived in.
In the 1950s and 60s, the company added new vegetables to its offering including cabbage, cardone, and fennel. By 1969, it streamlined its packing process by introducing centralized operations. In the 1970s, the addition of leafy greens, cauliflower, and other specialty vegetables further expanded its growing product line.
Hugo Tottino unloading artichokes.
In 1988, the first winter harvest in Coachella, California yielded a bounty of vegetable crops effectively ensuring the year-round availability of its product line. Back up north, the company moved into its new cooling facility and corporate headquarters office in Castroville.
In 2007 the Coachella cooler and distribution center was expanded; and again in 2015, it underwent a $20mm overhaul which increased the plant to 65,000 square feet, 25 loading docks, and a new administrative office.
In addition to its flagship item, artichokes, Ocean Mist Farms has grown its offering into over 30 fresh vegetable commodities and value-added items including its Season & Steam line. "We've long since earned the coveted 'largest grower/shipper' claim for our artichokes," said Chris Drew, president and CEO. "However the knowledge and perseverance that positioned us to master growing the often-fickle artichoke, continues to drive us to develop, grow, harvest, package, and distribute all of our fresh vegetable products to meet the demand of consumers nationwide."
The packing shed of the early days.
This summer has been a time of celebration, reflection, and appreciation for Ocean Mist Farms. To commemorate its 100th anniversary, the company has had several events that will culminate in a company-hosted family picnic in September.
These include: unveiling a new company logo to the employee base at the 100-year anniversary party; replacing lamp post banners along the main street through Castroville with the updated Ocean Mist Farms logo 100-year messaging; developing 100-year milestone graphics to wrap trucks; anniversary artichoke petal inserts and messaging on new (artichoke) hang tags and 4-count clamshell labels; adding an anniversary page to the company website.
For more information:
Lori Bigras
Ocean Mist Farms
[email protected]
www.oceanmist.com/centennial