Away We Go: Day 3-Ocean Mist Farms

This morning Mother and I will tour Ocean Mist Farms.

Since 1924, Ocean Mist Farms has provided multiple generations of customers with the freshest Artichokes and vegetables, and is still family owned. Ocean Mist Farms is headquartered in Castroville, California — “The Artichoke Capitol of the World” and home of the annual Castroville Artichoke Festival.

One of the oldest-known foods, Artichokes have delighted and nourished people for several thousand years. I love artichokes, but honestly I’ve never cooked a fresh artichoke.  But I’m sure I will now!

Ocean Mist is the largest grower of fresh Artichokes in the United States and grows them year-round.

This is not a mass-produced vegetable. In fact, Artichokes are meticulously planted, cultivated and then harvested strictly by hand. Artichokes grown in the United States are almost all of a Globe variety. The flavorful and famous Green Globe variety descended from rootstock planted by Italian immigrants at the end of the 19th Century in the Central Coast of California.

About six months are needed to grow a beautiful Artichoke plant that is ready for harvest. Artichoke plants are also hardy and bountiful. Most of the perennial plants are able to produce for five to 10 years and prefer to grow in cool weather. That’s why Artichokes thrive in the cool, moist climate of California’s Central Coast. And Ocean Mist’s cultivation and R&D experts are continually working to develop new varieties of Artichokes.

Follow this link http://www.oceanmist.com/ to learn everything you ever wanted to know about artichokes, including how to prepare and cook, Serving tips and recipes, even pairing tips. 

Michele Kauffman
Harter House World Flavors