Ocean Garden History

Founded in 1957, Ocean Garden Products began as a small group of boat owners from Mexico striving to market their harvest of premium Mexican shrimp in the United States. Today, that humble association has evolved into one of the largest seafood companies in the United States with the most recognized brands of premium quality wild and farm raised “Authentic Mexican Shrimp.”  Ocean Garden is the most recognized brand of shrimp in foodservice and actually dates back to 1926.

Through the years, other seafood presentations have been added that include:  Storm® Norwegian salmon, Calmex® Mexican and Australian canned abalone, Ocean Garden® calamari, Latin American shrimp, Asian shrimp, and domestic shrimp.

The year 2003 marked the formation of the Consejo Mexicano del Camarón (the Mexican Shrimp Council), which was spearheaded by Ocean Garden.  This binational group of U.S. and Mexican shrimp producers, processors, suppliers, and marketers was created to educate the foodservice and consumer audience about the quality aspects and price value of “Authentic Mexican Shrimp”.

In 2004, Ocean Garden began working with fishermen and a number of Mexican and U.S. environmental groups to form what eventually became Alto Golfo Sustentable (AGS), or the “Sustainable Upper Gulf”.  The objectives of AGS are focused on protecting the endangered vaquita marina porpoise in the Upper Gulf of California, also known as Mexico’s Sea of Cortez.

A long time subsidiary of Bancomext, On December 13, 2005 the Mexican Government agreed to sell Ocean Garden Products to a group of agribusinesses based in Sonora, Mexico. Following a closely watched government-run bidding process, the sale was completed in February of 2006 represents a significant development in the company’s history. The ownership group represents a group of agribusiness companies that have long been involved in either the wild capture or aquaculture of Mexican shrimp.

Throughout rich history and growth over the years, Ocean Garden continues to secure and deliver the best possible shrimp and seafood products possible and remains committed to providing premium quality seafood, seafood sustainability, and industry integrity.