CASTROVILLE, CA - With the help of Mother Nature, Ocean Mist® Farms has its timing down pat as its fall crop of Brussels sprouts is hitting its peak just in time to meet shoppers’ holiday demand. Harvested out of Castroville, California, through January and out of Coachella, California, and Mexico starting in late December, the supplier has a myriad of items to meet each retailer’s needs.
“The fall crop is peaking now along the central coast of California, right in time for both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays,” said Mark Munger, Senior Director of Marketing, in a press release last week. “Although Ocean Mist Farms grows Brussels sprouts year-round, the crop peaks during November, which is a reason Brussels sprouts continue to grow in popularity as a holiday favorite. The season will begin shifting to the Coachella Valley in late December, and we expect the central coast harvest to continue well into January. We anticipate a very smooth transition into our desert growing region with supply coming out of all three regions during the December holidays.”
Over the last few years, Ocean Mist has increased its Brussels sprout volume steadily to meet demand, the grower explained in a release. The company has also added a wider range of value-added products, including its Season & Steam pack, 16 oz and 32 oz family size form & fill packs, and halved and shredded Brussels sprout packs.
During the holidays, Ocean Mist Farms also offers Brussels sprout stalks, offering a fun way for consumers to purchase, display, and cook Brussels sprouts.
“We’ve found that when retailers merchandise a range of pack options, including bulk, packaged whole, and fresh-cut, sales increase significantly,” added Munger. “We also recommend displaying sprouts in the value-added case and also in the wet rack, providing a variety of convenient options within arm’s reach.”
As Ocean Mist further explained in its release, shoppers spend $4.3 million on Brussels sprouts every year at Thanksgiving. This holiday season, the grower encourages retailers to let their shoppers know this nutrition-rich vegetable may look like cabbage but has a denser texture and milder flavor, and Ocean Mist Farms has a library of information, recipes, and more for consumers to learn how to prepare and cook their fresh Brussels sprouts.
Want more holiday produce merchandising ideas? Keep reading AndNowUKnow.
