MONTEREY, CA - Jane Hayes, President of Monterey Farms, is a determined entrepreneur who turned passion, perseverance and artichokes into a legacy. Her flagship product, ArtiHearts—ready-to-eat artichoke hearts that offer a domestic alternative to imported products—was born from firsthand experience with just how time-consuming it can be to prepare fresh artichoke hearts. Since we last spoke, Jane has launched two new products that continue to elevate the artichoke category, all while employing a circular upcycling process that benefits growers, retailers, ranchers, and consumers alike.

“For 25 years, Monterey Farms has led the way in processing locally grown artichoke products, bringing fresh refrigerated artichoke hearts to market,” Jane tells me. “We continue to innovate with new products, staying deeply rooted in Monterey County, while proudly supporting local growers, ranchers, chefs, and retailers.”

One new product, ArtiQ’s, delivers a value-added solution with freshly harvested artichokes trimmed in half and steamed to perfection. Harvested from the central coast of California, they are a ready-to-eat snack that pairs well with the second new product, Chef Butter, fresh ingredient compound butters in several unique culinary flavors such as Lemon Dill and Shiitake Ginger.

“Our upcycle circular process gives life to local growers’ artichoke culls or seconds, which are otherwise not suited for the raw market, and hand trims them down to their hearts. A true labor of love! Our trimmings are then donated to local ranchers for cattle feed. It is a full-circle effort where everyone wins- growers benefit from cost savings through compensation, removal of culls and 100% utilization of product grown, ranchers save significantly on feed costs,” Jane explains, “and retail partners get domestically grown and manufactured, high-quality products that offers their customers fresh, healthy, time-saving alternatives.”

Jane notes that retail and foodservice partners benefit from consistent pricing, since the products offered from Monterey Farms do not fluctuate with market prices.

“We offer a solid 90-day refrigerated shelf-life, far exceeding raw vegetables’ limited longevity, allowing inventory to be stored without spoilage, even in the off-season,” she adds. “Our unique products are unlike any other, bringing true value, nutrition, and unmatched quality to our customers. We are very excited about our new products that emphasize quality, convenience, and flavor.”

With a new website in tow as well, Monterey Farms is a company to check out.