Ocean Mist Farms Showcases New Innovations ‘Roastables’ & ‘Heartichokes’
March 10, 2026 | 2 min to read
CASTROVILLE, Calif. – Ocean Mist Farms, North America’s leading grower and shipper of fresh artichokes, returned from the 2026 SEPC Southern Exposure show energized by meaningful conversations with retailers and trade partners.
According to Ocean Mist, events like SEPC provide a valuable opportunity to strengthen relationships with existing customers, engage face-to-face with new prospects, and build meaningful connections with potential partners across the industry. And this year’s show was no exception.
The 2026 SEPC show theme, “From Fields to Families,” closely aligns with the company’s vertically integrated growing, harvesting and shipping operations, delivering a consistent, year-round supply of premium fresh vegetables to customers across North America.
Ocean Mist Farms showcased and sampled its latest value-added innovations – Roastables and Heartichokes – to enthusiastic show attendees, earning strong positive feedback on the flavorful and versatile roasted vegetable dishes. The Roastables line was rebranded last year with bold new packaging across seven SKUs, now available in the marketplace and gaining retail traction.
First-of-their-kind Heartichokes, offered in three flavor options, are scheduled to begin shipping in Q1. Retailer momentum continues to build for these unique, washed and trimmed tender artichokes, with expanded distribution expected as shipments ramp up in the coming weeks.
“We understand what consumers are looking for,” said President and CEO, Chris Drew. “Our latest innovations deliver the convenience today’s busy families are seeking without compromising on flavor or nutrition.” Adding, “ When weeknights are hectic, Ocean Mist Farms value-added fresh vegetables – like Roastables and Heartichokes – make it easy to put wholesome, home-cooked meals on the table in a fraction of time required to prep the vegetables.”
In developing and launching these versatile new products, Ocean Mist also recognized the importance of packaging that stands out at retail and breaks through the “sea of sameness” in the produce department. According to Director of Value-Added Sales Jeff Hutterer, “We made the decision to rebrand our original Roastables line – now seven items strong – to better capture shoppers’ attention and clearly communicate the convenience and flavor benefits.”
He continued, “The bold new look, refreshed branding and high-impact graphics were introduced through our ‘No Shame in a Shortcut’ campaign at the end of 2025, and the line has continued to generate sales lift and growth nationwide.”
About Ocean Mist Farms
Established in 1924, Ocean Mist Farms is a fourth-generation family-owned business located in Castroville, California. This company – the largest grower/shipper of fresh artichokes in North America – celebrated their milestone 100-year anniversary in 2024. Committed to consistently delivering the highest standards in the industry for their Gold Standard artichokes, the company also offers a full line of 30+ premium fresh vegetable commodities and value-added products, as well as exciting new cooking kit innovations including their award-winning Roastables and first-to-market Heartichokes lines. To learn more about Ocean Mist Farms, visit oceanmist.com or follow them on their socials – Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok.