Plans for new cooling and shipping facility now in the works
Last year, Lakeside Organic Gardens LLC, based in Watsonville, CA, purchased property to build new cooling and shipping facilities. Lindsey Roberts, marketing and communications director for the company, said it also purchased 200 acres of farmland that was threatened by developers.
“Plans for building our new facility are now in the works,” said Roberts. “As for the farm land, we’re committed to a three-year transition to certify the land as organic. We’re excited to grow our existing organic acreage in Watsonville.”
Brian Peixoto, sales manager for Lakeside Organic Gardens, said the demand for organics fluctuates based on what other shippers have to offer.
“Overall, however, demand exceeds supply,” said Peixoto. “Day in and day out, we divvy up what we have to our loyal customers.”
“We are excited about the increase in our acreage because it will allow us to supply more of our customers with heavier volumes of items they need,” he continued. “Organic business is up — way up. The more you talk to people, the more you will find that they are choosing to consume organic over conventional.”
The company recently announced that it has formed a strategic alliance with Ocean Mist Farms to grow for each another, thereby offering their customers wider organic product lines.
The alliance will add organic artichokes to the Lakeside Organic Gardens product line. The Ocean Mist organic product line will expand to include beets, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, cilantro, fennel, iceberg lettuce, kale, leeks, parsley, red leaf, green leaf, romaine and spinach.
Ocean Mist will market the items under the “Ocean Mist Organic” label.
In a press release dated May 20, Dick Peixoto, grower-owner of Lakeside Organic Gardens, said, “At Lakeside Organic Gardens, we’re excited to offer our customers organic artichokes year-round. We appreciate the commitment Ocean Mist has made to grow the best-quality organic artichokes. This is a win for both companies because both of our customers will have immediate access to wider organic product lines.”
In the same press release, Ocean Mist Farms chief executive officer, Ed Boutonnet, stated, “The purpose of the strategic alliance between the two companies is to meet the increasing shopper demand for organic produce. It’s important to the future of our business that we respond to the changes in the marketplace and meet the needs of our end consumer; adding organic produce to our product list is part of meeting that need.”
Lakeside Organic Gardens grows, field-packs and ships over 45 commodities year-round. All are grown on certified organic land. It grows in the Pajaro Valley year-round.
“In order to offer a steady supply for our customers through the winter, we also grow in the Imperial Valley in California,” added Roberts.
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