CASTROVILLE, CA – Ocean Mist® Farms announced the passing of Albert Pieri today. Pieri was one of the company’s founders and a dedicated employee of nearly 50 years.

“Our most heartfelt condolences go out to Albert’s children, Renee, Glen, Dorian, and Diane, along with his sister Norma Pieri-Reasons, brother-in-law Don Reasons, and companion Marlene McMillan,” said CEO Joe Pezzini, in a company announcement. “Al’s contributions to our organization, the agricultural industry, and his community will be remembered and appreciated by all for many years to come.”

Pieri was a pioneering member of the California Artichoke and Vegetable Growers—renamed Ocean Mist Farms in 1995—and a recipient of the UnitedAg Lifetime Achievement Award for his service to the industry.

Known affectionately as “Big Al” for his stature and outsize personality, Pieri began his career working for his father at California Artichoke & Vegetable (Cal Choke)—harvesting crops and making crates after school and during the summertime.

After completing high school, Pieri joined the navy, completed an overseas tour of duty, and returned to the company—packing broccoli, loading and icing railroad cars, driving trucks, and learning the business from the ground up.

In 1954, Pieri moved to a bookkeeping position, but soon found himself fielding sales calls and establishing a rapport with buyers. By 1964, he had become the company’s Sales Manager. During this time, Cal Choke added cauliflower, cardone, and sweet fennel to its categories, and the company’s popularity—along with Big Al’s—took off. In 1974 over 600 friends and associates came together to celebrate the company’s 50th Anniversary in Castroville.

Pieri continued to support innovation and expansion throughout his career. By 1981, the company had added romaine lettuce from Boutonnet Farms, along with butter, red, green, and leaf lettuces. His tenure saw the company ad state-of-the-art packing machinery, hydro and vacuum coolers, forced-air storage and handling rooms, ice injection chambers, computers, and controllers—some of the first of their kind in agriculture.

A memorial service is planned for 11am on May 6, 2017 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Woodland, California. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to the Ocean Mist Farms Academic Scholarship Program.