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CapitalPress.com
Friday, March 5, 2021
Brussels sprouts a different kind of crop
By JULIA HOLLISTER
For the Capital Press
If you are looking for a fast-grow-
ing crop, Brussels sprouts might not
be a good idea. But if you want heavy
harvests, Brussels sprouts can pro-
duce up to 3 pounds on one stalk.
“The growing season for Brus-
sels sprouts is around two years,” said
Paul Scheid, grower and vice pres-
ident of production at Ocean Mist
Farms in Castroville, Calif. “There
are about 10 to 15 of these ‘mini cab-
bages’ on a 3-foot high stalk.”
The main growing season is from
mid-June to the end of December on
the Central Coast.
Growers extend that growing sea-
son to year-round production by farm-
ing Brussels sprouts in Southern Cal-
ifornia and the desert growing region
during the winter and spring months.
Ninety percent of America’s Brus-
sels sprouts come from Califor-
nia, and Ocean Mist Farms produces
approximately 1,855 crop acres annu-
ally in Castroville, Coachella, Oxnard
Ocean Mist Farms
Paul Scheid, vice president of
production at Ocean Mist Farms
in Castroville, Calif., says 90%
of American’s Brussels sprouts
come from California.
and Oceanside, depending on the time
of year.
The Netherlands has long been
the world leader for Brussels sprout
production.
Ocean Mist Farms
Harvesting Brussels sprouts at Ocean Mist Farms in Coachella, Calif.
“Our biggest pest problems are
worms and aphid,” he said. “The dia-
mondback caterpillar has been partic-
ularly challenging to control the past
three years because of its affinity for
cabbage family crops like Brussels
sprouts.”
Worms and other pests are not the
only challenges facing California’s
agriculture. Scheid says water and
labor issues are in the mix.
Ocean Mist’s Brussels sprouts are
hand harvested from each stalk that
grows on the plant, then machine
sorted by size on the harvest equip-
ment in the field. The stalks are
tilled back into the ground and used
as organic matter for continued soil
health.
All sprouts on the stalk are not
the same size. Scheid says it is his
goal as a grower to produce uni-
form-sized Brussels sprouts for the
various pack styles.
However, in general there are
three sizes, fancy (small), regular
and jumbo. Each size is found on a
specific part of the stalk.
More customers are discovering
Brussels sprouts today.
“The upward trend for Brus-
sels sprouts is a result of new meth-
ods of cooking and flavors, espe-
cially bacon, used to prepare,” he
said. “Roasting and sautéing versus
the boiling of years past have ele-
vated the eating experience of this
vegetable.”
Ocean Mist Farms is also known
as the largest grower of fresh arti-
chokes in the U.S. They are grown
year-round in Castroville, Oxnard
and Coachella in addition to Baja
California.
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