Ocean Mist adds growing operations in Mexico
Ocean Mist adds growing operations in Mexico
Ocean Mist Farms has partnered with Agricola Quintana Inc. in Mexico's Mexicali Valley to create Baja Mist and together the two will grow Mexican product under the "Ocean Mist" brand name.
Until recently, Ocean Mist Farms, headquartered in Castroville, CA, contracted with growers to supply Mexican-grown items that typically fill in gaps in U.S. vegetable production.
"Baja Mist gives Ocean Mist a presence in Mexico and allows us to develop infrastructure there to grow our business," Troy Boutonnet, vice president of production at Ocean Mist Farms, said in a statement.
To start, the items to be grown by Baja Mist under the "Ocean Mist" brand are green onions, asparagus and brussels sprouts. The venture gives Ocean Mist the means and opportunity to expand the number of Mexican commodities grown for the Ocean Mist product line.
Agricola Quintana has been contract growing for Ocean Mist Farms since 2002, and the Quintana family has a rich history in Mexican agriculture. Carmen Quintana was president of the Mexicali Vegetable Growers Association from 1996 to 2004 and is currently the president of the Regional Produce Foundation. Her two sons, Gilberto and Roberto Quintana, joined her in the family farming business after they both graduated from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo.
Ocean Mist Farms has been in operation for over 82 years. The ability to expand the operation over the Mexican border decreases the barriers to a successful, year-round fresh vegetable program.
"Baja Mist will allow us to maintain the high standards we follow in our U.S. growing operations," added Mr. Boutonnet, who was down in Mexicali to sign the growing venture in late May.
The growing region is 1,000 acres predominately in Mexicali Valley. The current Mexican harvest schedule for Baja Mist is green onions, year round; asparagus, January to April; and brussels sprouts, December to May.
Ocean Mist believes there are many advantages of the new Mexican growing partnership, including speeding the development of Mexican-grown items; better control over food safety, quality and growing practices that mirror domestic disciplines; solidifying infrastructure and Mexican farming in Mexico; giving Ocean Mist a home base in Mexico; and ensuring more efficient logistics and timely deliveries of Mexican product to U.S. loading facilities in California in Coachella and Castroville.
Under the Ocean Mist Farms umbrella are the following growing entities: Desert Mist, which handles the winter desert program; Sea Mist for Castroville artichokes and vegetables; Laguna Mist, which covers the Oxnard area and the southern Salinas Valley; Baja Mist for Mexicali Valley and Baja California; and Boutonnet Farms for Salinas Valley vegetables.
Until recently, Ocean Mist Farms, headquartered in Castroville, CA, contracted with growers to supply Mexican-grown items that typically fill in gaps in U.S. vegetable production.
"Baja Mist gives Ocean Mist a presence in Mexico and allows us to develop infrastructure there to grow our business," Troy Boutonnet, vice president of production at Ocean Mist Farms, said in a statement.
To start, the items to be grown by Baja Mist under the "Ocean Mist" brand are green onions, asparagus and brussels sprouts. The venture gives Ocean Mist the means and opportunity to expand the number of Mexican commodities grown for the Ocean Mist product line.
Agricola Quintana has been contract growing for Ocean Mist Farms since 2002, and the Quintana family has a rich history in Mexican agriculture. Carmen Quintana was president of the Mexicali Vegetable Growers Association from 1996 to 2004 and is currently the president of the Regional Produce Foundation. Her two sons, Gilberto and Roberto Quintana, joined her in the family farming business after they both graduated from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo.
Ocean Mist Farms has been in operation for over 82 years. The ability to expand the operation over the Mexican border decreases the barriers to a successful, year-round fresh vegetable program.
"Baja Mist will allow us to maintain the high standards we follow in our U.S. growing operations," added Mr. Boutonnet, who was down in Mexicali to sign the growing venture in late May.
The growing region is 1,000 acres predominately in Mexicali Valley. The current Mexican harvest schedule for Baja Mist is green onions, year round; asparagus, January to April; and brussels sprouts, December to May.
Ocean Mist believes there are many advantages of the new Mexican growing partnership, including speeding the development of Mexican-grown items; better control over food safety, quality and growing practices that mirror domestic disciplines; solidifying infrastructure and Mexican farming in Mexico; giving Ocean Mist a home base in Mexico; and ensuring more efficient logistics and timely deliveries of Mexican product to U.S. loading facilities in California in Coachella and Castroville.
Under the Ocean Mist Farms umbrella are the following growing entities: Desert Mist, which handles the winter desert program; Sea Mist for Castroville artichokes and vegetables; Laguna Mist, which covers the Oxnard area and the southern Salinas Valley; Baja Mist for Mexicali Valley and Baja California; and Boutonnet Farms for Salinas Valley vegetables.
