Olivia’s Organics is turning 20. The Chelsea-based brand, known for its pre-washed leafy greens, celery hearts, squash, salad kits, and veggie juices, is a staple in many kitchens in more than two dozen states. The brand was born from State Garden, a fourth-generation family-run produce supplier and a leader in the organic green space. “We were the first company east of the Mississippi to dedicate our entire facility to organic produce grown across the US,” says CEO Mark DeMichaelis, 59, the third generation to work in the business and continue the legacy.
The DeMichaelis story begins in 1938 when Italian immigrant Giovanni DeMichaelis and his daughter Anne sold washed and trimmed celery hearts from a pushcart at what is now Faneuil Hall. The business later began partnering with local farmers and relocated to Chelsea’s produce market, and years later, it settled into its current home on 2nd Street.
Fast-forward to the early 2000s, when the company expanded on the trend of how people wanted their greens — conveniently packaged, pre-washed, and ready for tossing into the salad bowl. The insight led State Garden to launch Olivia’s Organics and later introduce two other divisions, Northeast Fresh and Saturn Farms, last year, both focusing on conventionally grown leafy greens, celery, and mixes.
Recently, it launched a new product line, Locally Known, featuring greenhouse-grown greens with a distinctive crunchy bite. The line, raised in a greenhouse in Berlin, N.H., includes thick curly lettuce and a blend of red and green lettuces. A standout is a mix of greenhouse baby arugula combined with field-grown baby spinach from local farms. “We wanted to combine crunchiness with the nutritional value of arugula and spinach,” Mark DeMichaelis says. “And the blend has a loud flavor profile.”
You might wonder: Who is Olivia? The three DeMichaelis brothers who run the company have eight children, and only one is a girl. Her name is Olivia.
State Garden’s brands are available at most major supermarkets and grocers. For a store locator, check stategarden.com.
This article was originally published in The Boston Globe.
