Charles Edward "Ed" Boutonnet

It is with great sadness that the family of Charles Edward “Ed” Boutonnet announce his peaceful passing on November 17, 2023, at his home in Salinas at the age of 83,with his loving wife, Rosa at his side.

Ed was born to George and Jean Boutonnet in Monterey on February 20, 1940. He attended Marina Grade School and Monterey High School. Ed worked during the summer after graduating from high school in 1957 and then joined the Army. He spent six months in active duty at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and three years in the Army Reserve. When he returned to the Monterey Peninsula, he attended Hartnell Junior College and received his AA Degree before heading off to Cal Poly, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Crop Science. He later attended Cornell University and received his Master of Science in Vegetable Crops and Soil Science in 1966 and was a graduate of the California Agriculture Leadership Program, Class III in 1975.

For three years he was a Kellogg Fellow in the California Agricultural Leadership Program of the Agricultural Education Foundation. The Foundation honored him with the Award of Excellence for generosity and continued commitment to the program. Cal Poly honored him with the Cal Poly Crops Club Distinguished Agriculturalist Award for outstanding service to California agriculture and the Cal Poly Crops Department. In 2004, Ed was awarded the “Distinguished Fellows Award” from California State University Monterey Bay and in 2009 he was the honored Alumnus for the Cal Poly College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.

During his very early years of farming for his father, George, Ed kept busy catching gophers, moving sprinkler pipes and all other activities that were needed on the ranch. He started harvesting potatoes when he was 12 years old and received his driver’s license at 14. Ed’s father suffered a serious accident in 1958, and at the age of 18, Ed found himself in charge of his father’s entire farming operation, managing 50 people, and working in every aspect of the business.

Ed joined his father in the family farming business in 1966 and began growing some crops for Ocean Mist Farms in 1968. Ed’s son, Troy, joined the Boutonnet farming business (Boutonnet Farms) in 1985 where he continues to carry on the family farming operation. In 1973 the Boutonnet Family joined forces with Sea Mist Farms (an Ocean Mist Farms affiliate) to bring artichokes, and eventually mixed vegetables into the offering, helping to bolster and diversify the Ocean Mist Farms product line. They took advantage of opportunities along the way to expand their farming operation and, in 1982, purchased an interest in Ocean Mist Farms. Ed proudly served as President and CEO of Ocean Mist Farms from 1990 to 2015 where he helped lead the company from an Artichoke, Broccoli, and Brussels’ Sprout shipper to one of the country’s major vegetable grower/shippers and the largest Artichoke grower/shipper in North America.

Ed’s philosophy throughout the years was to always surround himself with compassionate, intelligent people that had the common sense, ability, work ethic, and passion to excel. Ed’s concern for all of his employees’ welfare, from the field laborer to senior management was always shown in his decision making process. He was extremely proud of the area in which we live, the ground in which we nurture, and the vegetables in which we produce.

Ed was a true philanthropist; he gave from the heart and continued to give generously to the communities and industry in which he worked. Ed cared for people and gave not only his time, but was very generous in financial support to individuals in need. Throughout his life, Ed made large contributions that left their mark on people, agriculture, and the Salinas Valley.

Ed was an avid fisherman and hunter. He enjoyed many hunting excursions searching for that elusive 30” mule deer. Most recently he enjoyed hunting deer with his grandson in Mexico. On his last hunt with his grandson and son he was worried about his ability to shoot; being an awesome marksman that was no worry. On that hunt as usual, his buck was the largest one taken. Ed was a member of the Salinas Gun Club and also a member of the Wildgoose Duck Club in Butte County where he and his good friends spent many Wednesdays and Saturdays hunting together during duck season. Ed, also an expert fly fisherman, enjoyed many fishing trips to Alaska, Utah and Colorado with his dear friends Dennis and Millie Sites and wife Rosa. In his early years he loved fishing at Alder creek in Yosemite. He shared many Montana Father’s Day fishing trips with his father, George, brother-in-law Bill, and buddies, Brian, John, Norman, and Dennis.

Ed was extremely proud that three generations of the Boutonnet Family have been involved in the day to day operations of Ocean Mist Farms. His personal goal was to attend Ocean Mist Farm’s 100th anniversary in 2024.

Ed was pre-deceased by his parents, George and Jean Boutonnet, and sister, Nancy Moresco.

He is survived by his loving wife, Rosa, of 23 years, his son, Troy Boutonnet of Salinas, his daughters, Kim Boutonnet of Corona, and Michelle Prewitt of La Quinta, mother of his children, Patricia “Pati” (Terry) Boutonnet of La Quinta, stepdaughter, Cynthia Ortiz of San Jose, grandchildren, Garrett, Kirtee and Marshall Boutonnet of Salinas, Morgan Boutonnet of Bozeman, Montana, Ethan (Shannon) Perez of Corona, Megan Perez of Corona, Blake Prewitt of Prescott, Arizona, Austin Prewitt of San Diego, and Gizelle and Leilah Ortiz of San Jose, brother in-law, William “Bill” Moresco of Salinas, and his niece and nephew Shari (Robert) Polovneff of Truckee and Todd (Erin) Brendlin of Bakersfield.

The Boutonnet family would like to give special thanks to Ed’s caregivers, Adan, Baili, Stephanie, Martha, Ruby and many others, who gave of themselves lovingly and unconditionally in seeing to Ed’s care and comfort throughout his final years.

Visitation and viewing will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 7, 2023 at Struve and Laporte, 41 West San Luis Street, Salinas, California. A Rosary will follow at 6:00 p.m.

A Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 8, 2023 at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church, 11140 Preston Street, Castroville, California. A private family burial will follow. Reception will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 8, 2023 at The Corral de Tierra Country Club, 81 Corral de Tierra Road, Salinas, California.

The Boutonnet family ask that donations in honor of Ed’s memory be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, P. O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741, Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church, 15 Railroad Avenue, Spreckels, California, 93962, California Polytechnic State University, Crop’s Department, 1 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo, California 93407, or a charity of their choice.