Click to edit Master title style PRESS KIT 1 Company Background COMPANY NAME COMPANY DESCRIPTION Ocean Mist Farms Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth generation family- owned business and the largest grower of fresh HEADQUARTERS Artichokes in North America, is committed to delivering the highest standards in the industry Castroville, CA for food safety, product quality, customer WEBSITE service, innovation and sustainability. The company’s full line of 30 fresh vegetables www.OceanMist.com includes the award-winning Season & Steam www.OceanMistOrganic.com and Ocean Mist Organic product lines. www.AllAboutArtichokes.com MEDIA CONTACT FOOD SAFETY LEADER Diana McClean Joe Pezzini, president and chief executive Director of Marketing officer, was the first chairman of the advisory 831-770-6435 board for the California Leafy Green Product Handler Marketing Agreement (LGMA.) [email protected] 2 Growing Regions Ocean Mist Farms is headquartered in Castroville, California – the world’s Artichoke capital. All growing ground is strategically located in regions with prime soil and micro-climates that enable Ocean Mist Farms to farm more than 30 fresh vegetable commodities, including Artichokes, year round. Our Growing Regions 3 Company History Since 1924 Ocean Mist Farms has a more than 90-year legacy of growing fresh vegetables in California. Since 1924, Ocean Mist Farms has led the commercial growing and shipping of Artichokes from Castroville, a town that is now synonymous with the thorny, odd-looking little vegetable, and today it is recognized as the largest Artichoke operation in the United States. Through the Depression, labor strikes and two world wars, Ocean Mist Farms' commitment to high quality and superior service has never wavered. That commitment to customers dictates a continuous emphasis on quality assurance from soil to consumer. 4 Company History California Artichoke & Vegetable Growers Daniel Pieri and cousins Amerigo and Angelo Del Chiaros launched the California Artichoke & Vegetable Growers Corporation in 1924, renamed Ocean Mist Farms in 1995. Pieri had been in the produce business in San Francisco since 1908 having earlier formed the San Francisco Artichoke Association and the Santa Cruz Vegetable Company. He had considerable experience growing Artichokes and Brussels sprouts in the San Gregorio and Half Moon Bay areas. He and the Del Chiaros leased land south of Castroville and soon the three men were in business joined by Alfred Tottino, a local vegetable grower. The foursome set up business in a wood and tin shed at the Del Monte Junction. Into the 1930s, many growers had no electricity or telephone service. Business was done by a handshake or through the mail. The Pieri/Reasons and Tottino families continue to be involved in Ocean Mist Farms daily operations. 5 Company History Growth & Expansion Before WWII the company started growing broccoli and in the 1950s and 1960s added fava beans, English peas, cabbage, cardone and fennel sprouts (sweet anise). In 1972, Ed Boutonnet, now chairman of the board of Ocean Mist Farms and a native of Salinas, joined the company, bringing with him Sea Mist Farms (Artichokes) and later Boutonnet Farms (mixed vegetables) further diversifying the company’s vegetable offerings. The Boutonnet family is a third- generation farming family and active in managing Ocean Mist Farms. Since the early 1980s, asparagus, cauliflower, celery, green onions, leeks, iceberg lettuce, mixed lettuce, and rapini have been added to Ocean Mist Farms’ commodity list. In 1983, the Bengard family became part of Ocean Mist Farms with representation on the board of directors. This farming family grows approximately 1,800 acres of product annually for the company. 6 Company History Today Today Ocean Mist Farms employs approximately 90 people in sales and related administrative positions, approximately 200 in its packing and state-of-the-art shipping and cooling facilities, and nearly 1200 individuals at is affiliated ranches and harvesting operations. With satellite operations in the Coachella valley, Oxnard and Huron, Calif., Yuma, Az., and Baja Mexico, the closely held corporation leads the industry in field packing and cooling technology as well as innovative packaging. 7 The Artichoke Leader Largest grower of fresh Artichokes in North America Largest collection of Artichoke dedicated content at www.AllAboutArtichokes.com Only online Artichoke Club, with more than 60,000 members and growing Largest proprietary Artichoke plant breeding program in North America Only year round Artichoke growing program in the country 8 Season & Steam Technology Ocean Mist Farms presents its award-winning microwavable steam package for cleaned and ready-to-cook fresh vegetables that gives users the option to pre-season the contents to their flavor preference, reseal with the zip lock and steam by microwave all within the same bag. The ability to pre-season the fresh vegetable contents (prior to cooking) is an exclusive convenience attribute to the produce department. This technology is available for Artichokes as well as three Brussels sprouts items: SuperShreds SuperFood®, Quick Cook Sprout® and whole Brussels sprouts; and new to the world vegetable Kalette®. 9 Season & Steam Technology COOKING TIMES VARY BY ITEM 5 5 3 3 7 minutes minutes minutes minutes minutes minutes3 Ocean Mist Farms received the Joe Nucci Award for Product Innovation by Produce Business magazine for its “Season & Steam” packaging and the Produce Marketing Association Impact Award for Excellence in Produce Packaging twice. The Ocean Mist Farms Season & Steam product line is available year-round at select retailers10 in markets nationwide. Suggested retail price ranges from $3.49 - $3.99 per bag. Ocean Mist Organic Ocean Mist Farms has been growing organic vegetables since 2000 when we set aside organic acreage to produce premium organic artichokes. Since then, we have expanded our organic offerings to include a variety of vegetables. In 2015, Ocean Mist Farms created the Ocean Mist Organic label to service its customers nationwide. The line of organically-grown produce includes, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, cilantro, fennel, iceberg lettuce, kale, leeks, parsley, red leaf, green leaf, romaine and spinach. The items are available year-round, nationwide. 11 Key Brand Messages 1. Ocean Mist Farms is a fourth-generation grower-owned business that was founded by Italian Immigrants in 1924. 2. Farms in multiple locations throughout California, Arizona and Baja Mexico. 3. Famous artichokes were named the official state vegetable of California. 4. Ocean Mist Farms has been growing artichokes and 30 other premium fresh vegetables along the Monterey Coast for more than 90 years. 5. Ocean Mist Farms is the largest grower of artichokes in North America and one of the largest growers of Brussels sprouts in the United States. 6. Ocean Mist Farms offers 15 organically grown produce items under the Ocean Mist Organic label. 7. Ocean Mist Farms fresh artichokes and other premium fresh vegetables can be found everyday in grocery stores nationwide. 8. Over 20% of Ocean Mist Farms employees have worked with the company for over 20 years. 12 Key Brand Messages Environment Stewardship & Sustainability 1. Since 1924, environmental stewardship has always been a core value for Ocean Mist Farms. 2. Ocean Mist Farms is committed to preserving and enhancing the land on which we farm and the surrounding ecosystems. 3. Respect for our natural resources, including our employees who make our success possible and the environment in which they work, is central to our organization. Water Conservation 1. The proximity of our ranches to the ocean in California’s Monterey Bay makes water conservation a critical component of Ocean Mist Farms’ field management. 2. Ocean Mist Farms water conservation practices include: • Using recycled water to irrigate crops. • Using drip irrigation and soil moisture sensors to deliver water and nutrients only where needed. • Carefully managing irrigation activities to minimizing water runoff, evaporation, and drift. • Using vegetated waterways to improve water quality. • Cultivating seed varieties that require less water. 13 Key Brand Messages Food Waste 1. Ocean Mist Farms employs several strategies through the supply chain to supply only superior quality product and reduce the amount of food waste generated: • Inputs are applied as needed and not in excess • Packaging materials are thoroughly tested for superior product protection and supply chain integrity • Harvesting practices and technologies are developed to maximize production and crop yield efficiencies 2. Ocean Mist Farms works with state and local food banks to donate nutritious and safe produce to those in need including Ag Against Hunger and California Association of Food Banks. Community Relations 1. Ocean Mist Farms has been a proud supporter of the Annual Castroville Artichoke Food & Wine Festival since its inception more than 50 years ago. This Festival is an annual non-profit organization that raises funds for local community organizations. 2. Ocean Mist Farms is an annual supporter of various local school programs from science camp to athletic programs. 14 Logo Style Guide PMS 187 (red); PMS 288 (blue) C 0% - M 100% - Y 79% - K 20% C 100% - M 67% - Y 0% - K 23% FOR DOWNLOADABLE LOGO FILES: See Press and Media Section of www.OceanMist.com 15 Organic Style Guide FULL COLOR LOGO COLORS The Ocean Mist Organic logo is comprised of three colors: purple, teal and orange. For film and tag printing use Pantone colors. For offset printing use the CMYK equivalents. For web work, use the RGB equivalents. FOR DOWNLOADABLE LOGO FILES: See Press and Media Section of www.OceanMist.com 16 Season & Steam Style Guide PRIMARY LOGO PRIMARY GREYSCALE PRIMARY COLOR Season & Steam Red The primary color used to Pantone 200C represent the Season & Steam C16 m100 y87 k56 product line in Red pantone 200 C. FOR DOWNLOADABLE LOGO FILES: See Press and Media Section of www.OceanMist.com 17 18 .