In the early spring of 1942, the Oshita family was evacuated from Castroville to the Salinas Assembly Center following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. On July 1, 1942, the family was relocated to more permanent living quarters at the relocation center in Poston, Arizona (block 219-10-C). Jack and his brother Frank, located outside work near Des Moines, Iowa, and left Poston, Arizona in September 1944. His parents and sister left Poston the following year and returned to Castroville.
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| Takuji Jack Oshita |
After the end of world War II, Jack returned to Castroville. Later, he moved to Sacramento to attend college and worked for the Franchise Tax Board as an accountant for five years.
In the late 1950s, Jack returned to the Salinas area and along with his family (brother, Frank; brother-in-law, Don Mitani and cousin, George Yaguchi), they reorganized the family business and established Oshita Inc. In 1956, Jack married Angela (Angie) Fernandez, and they had two children.
For more than three decades the business flourished with vegetables grown, harvested, sold and shipped by Oshita Inc. The farming area expanded from the Salinas Valley to Oxnard and the Imperial Valley. The variety of products increased from green onions to a medley of leaf vegetables (from parsley to nappa). The brand names of OMO, MOR GREEN, and Big MO were recognized all over North America. Jack was in charge of sales until the company was sold in August of 1987.
Jack Oshita died at the age of 90 years on July 30, 2011. He is preceded in death by his parents, Takizo (1955) and Mesu Oshita.
For more than three decades the business flourished with vegetables grown, harvested, sold and shipped by Oshita Inc. The farming area expanded from the Salinas Valley to Oxnard and the Imperial Valley. The variety of products increased from green onions to a medley of leaf vegetables (from parsley to nappa). The brand names of OMO, MOR GREEN, and Big MO were recognized all over North America. Jack was in charge of sales until the company was sold in August of 1987.
Jack Oshita died at the age of 90 years on July 30, 2011. He is preceded in death by his parents, Takizo (1955) and Mesu Oshita.
He is survived by his wife, Angie; son, Steven of Palm Springs; daughter, Linda Silvestre of Salinas; brother, Frank K; and sister, Sally S. Mitani.
Sources: http://nikkeiwest.com/index.php/obituary-notice/192-obituaries-aug-10
