Castroville Artichoke Festival

For 61 years, the Monterey Peninsula has come together to celebrate California’s official state vegetable. California’s artichoke history began in 1922 when the first artichoke shoots were planted in the Castroville. Today, more than nine decades later, nearly 100 percent of America’s fresh artichoke supply comes from California and nearly two-thirds of that is still grown in Castroville. The Artichoke Festival started in 1959 as a way to celebrate the iconic artichoke and the region known as the “Artichoke Center of the World.” Over the years, the festival became the primary source of funding for local 501(c)(3) non-profit groups that depend upon a successful event for their viability. Norma Jeane Mortenson, better known as Marilyn Monroe, was named California’s first honorary Artichoke Queen in 1948. Since then, the annual festival has continued to grow, appealing to visitors from Castroville, Salinas, Monterey, San Francisco and other cities in California and beyond. Castroville-based Ocean Mist Farms, a 93 year old family farm, is the largest artichoke grower in the U.S. and a long-time supporter of the festival.