Ocean Mist Farms, a Castroville, Calif.-based grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in North America, is mourning the passing of beloved former president and CEO Ed Boutonnet.
Boutonnet was a visionary, industry titan and devoted grower-owner of the company for over 40 years, where his vision as president and CEO from 1990-2015 helped develop the company into a strategically focused industry leader, says Ocean Mist Farms.
The Boutonnet family, who first started consolidating acreage with one of Ocean Mist Farms’ original founding family members, Hugo Tottino, back in 1970 remain actively involved as valued grower-owners of the company, according to a news release.
In 1972 the Boutonnet family joined forces with Ocean Mist Farms affiliate Sea Mist Farms to bring artichokes — and eventually mixed vegetables — into the offering, helping to bolster and diversify the company’s product line. A decade later in 1982, the Boutonnet family became partners in the California Artichoke and Vegetable Growers Corp. — Ocean Mist Farms’ formal company name.
For the next couple decades, the Boutonnet family continued to add to their farming roster, adding leaf lettuces in the early 1980s. By 1990 Boutonnet was named president and CEO and began evolving the company into the largest grower-shipper of artichokes in North America. Under Boutonnet’s leadership Ocean Mist Farms expanded its acreage, facilities and product offerings. Boutonnet’s unwavering commitment and focus led sales to grow exponentially during his tenure, the company said.
As a farmer, he was a proud and steadfast steward of the land and understood the many facets of farming and the inherent challenges that exist in an extremely demanding and honorable profession. As a leader, Boutonnet’s passion for farming, the community, and developing and mentoring next generations of Ocean Mist Farms employees into future leaders was unrivaled, the company said.
He had an uncanny ability to connect with all employees — from field workers to senior management. When making long-term strategic business decisions, Boutonnet’s first and final consideration was always the welfare of Ocean Mist Farm employees.
Ocean Mist Farms President and CEO Chris Drew says he remembers Boutonnet with great respect, reverence and a deep sense of appreciation for his mentorship and guidance when he first joined Sea Mist Farms in 2004.
Drew recalls Boutonnet telling him: “There is no such thing as luck. Luck should be defined as when good preparation and opportunity meet. Pay attention to the details — opportunity lies behind the smallest details. And if you don’t make a mistake every now and again, you’re not trying hard enough — just don’t make the same mistake twice.”
Ocean Mist Farms also remembers Boutonnet for positioning the company to be a major player in the competitive landscape of grower-shippers. Creating an organizational structure and working with the leadership to identify, create and implement a strategic plan, mission, vision and values laid the groundwork for what was to come, the company said, adding that his commitment, efforts and perseverance have left an indelible mark on Ocean Mist Farms to this day.
Over the years Boutonnet served on multiple boards sharing his time, passion, insights and expertise to support and further worthy causes that were dear to his heart. He rightfully received several awards, honors, accolades and recognition for his many contributions to, and accomplishments in, the agriculture industry, the company said.
“He was always a welcome friend and colleague here, and his memory will live on as we near our centennial year in 2024 which Ed was so excited to celebrate with us,” the company said in a statement.
