Rouse’s Supermarkets All Choked Up About Record Display

Rouses Supermarkets teamed up Ocean Mist Farms in early spring to build the world’s largest fresh artichoke display at the regional retailer’s store at 4500 Tchoupitoulas St. in New Orleans.

The display was certified by the World Record’s Academy and will be included in the academy’s book for fresh largest artichoke display, along with photos.

Rouses' team used 20,000 fresh green globe Ocean Mist Farms artichokes to build the display and an artichoke-filled ornament suspended above the display in the shape of New Orleans' beloved symbol: the Fleur-di-lis. The display took 20 hours to complete and was photographed and measured for certification.

“Artichokes are a big part of our food culture here in New Orleans and we did a little investigating and learned there is no record-setting display for fresh vegetables,” said Joe Watson, Rouses, director of produce.

April marks the peak season for Ocean Mist Farms artichokes.

During a visit to Ocean Mist Farms headquarters in Castroville, Calif., Dale Huss (l), VP of artichoke production, thanks Joe Watson (c), Rouses' director of produce and David Williams, store produce manager, for their work building the world’s largest artichoke display earlier this year in New Orleans.