Castroville, Calif.-based Ocean Mist Farms is expecting an outstanding 2023 winter artichoke season with abundant volume and excellent quality throughout February and early March.
“We are expecting excellent quality, with sizes peaking at mostly 12’s and 18’s,” Ben Wilson, Ocean Mist Farms artichoke commodity manager, said in a news release. “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’ winter artichoke crop is grown mostly in the Coachella Valley, with smaller volumes coming from farms in Baja, Mexico, according to the release. The strong volume of artichokes is related to good growing conditions, and the release said the crop is showing an abundance of larger sizes.
The increased supply of artichokes provides retailers an opportunity for a seasonal boost in category sales, meeting shopper demand around healthy eating choices, the release said.
Ocean Mist Farms will be supporting retail partners during this heavy supply season with a full assortment of merchandising tools, including Ocean Mist Farms’ stand-alone display units, according to the release. The company will also be running a national consumer promotion supported by a strong digital media presence and collaborations with popular food influencers, the release said.
“We know this holiday season brought its own set of weather-related challenges for retailers when it came to receiving their supply,” Rick Bravo, vice president of sales and marketing at Ocean Mist Farms, said in the release. “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.”
