George E. Boutonnet dies at 89
George E. Boutonnet dies at 89
CASTROVILLE, CA -- Ocean Mist Farms has announced that George Boutonnet died June 6 at his Salinas, CA, home at the age of 89.
In 1939, Mr. Boutonnet started his farming legacy by growing potatoes and rhubarb in Marina, CA. Over the years, he built Boutonnet Farms by growing artichokes, cauliflower, lettuces, broccoli and other mixed vegetables. His son, Ed Boutonnet, joined the family business in 1966. In 1982 Boutonnet Farms became a major shareholder in what is now Ocean Mist Farms.
In describing his contribution to the company, Joe Pezzini, vice president of operations at Ocean Mist Farms, said in a statement, "George's character is woven into the fabric of this organization."
Even though the number of family-owned and -managed farming operations have declined over the past decades in the Salinas Valley, Mr. Boutonnet farmed with his son, the current president and chief executive officer of Ocean Mist Farms, for over the last 40 years, and with his grandson Troy Boutonnet, the current vice president of production of Ocean Mist Farms, for over 20 years, passing on tradition and values that fellow growers respected him for. As president of Boutonnet Farms and a member of the Ocean Mist Farms board of directors, George Boutonnet never retired from the family business and came to the Ocean Mist Farms office almost daily up until his last days.
Mr. Boutonnet will be remembered and admired for his integrity, humbleness, strong family values and his passion for farming. He was greatly respected and will be missed by the Salinas agricultural community, his large number of loyal employees, and upcoming family generations that will carry on his legacy, said Ocean Mist.
Mr. Boutonnet is survived by his wife of 68 years, Jean Boutonnet; his son, Ed Boutonnet and his wife, Rosa Boutonnet; his daughter, Nancy Moresco, and her husband, Bill Moresco; five grandchildren: Troy Boutonnet, Kim Perez, Todd Brendlin, Shari Rust and Michelle Prewitt; and 12 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be Monday, June 12, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Struve & Laporte Funeral Home, 41 West San Luis St., Salinas, CA. Mass will be held Tuesday, June 13, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church, 11140 Preston, Castroville, CA. A reception celebrating Mr. Boutonnet's life will be held immediately following the mass in the director's patio area at the California Rodeo Grounds in Salinas.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation in honor of his granddaughter Shari, 49 Stevenson St., San Francisco, CA 94105, or to the donor's favorite charity in Mr. Boutonnets memory.
In 1939, Mr. Boutonnet started his farming legacy by growing potatoes and rhubarb in Marina, CA. Over the years, he built Boutonnet Farms by growing artichokes, cauliflower, lettuces, broccoli and other mixed vegetables. His son, Ed Boutonnet, joined the family business in 1966. In 1982 Boutonnet Farms became a major shareholder in what is now Ocean Mist Farms.
In describing his contribution to the company, Joe Pezzini, vice president of operations at Ocean Mist Farms, said in a statement, "George's character is woven into the fabric of this organization."
Even though the number of family-owned and -managed farming operations have declined over the past decades in the Salinas Valley, Mr. Boutonnet farmed with his son, the current president and chief executive officer of Ocean Mist Farms, for over the last 40 years, and with his grandson Troy Boutonnet, the current vice president of production of Ocean Mist Farms, for over 20 years, passing on tradition and values that fellow growers respected him for. As president of Boutonnet Farms and a member of the Ocean Mist Farms board of directors, George Boutonnet never retired from the family business and came to the Ocean Mist Farms office almost daily up until his last days.
Mr. Boutonnet will be remembered and admired for his integrity, humbleness, strong family values and his passion for farming. He was greatly respected and will be missed by the Salinas agricultural community, his large number of loyal employees, and upcoming family generations that will carry on his legacy, said Ocean Mist.
Mr. Boutonnet is survived by his wife of 68 years, Jean Boutonnet; his son, Ed Boutonnet and his wife, Rosa Boutonnet; his daughter, Nancy Moresco, and her husband, Bill Moresco; five grandchildren: Troy Boutonnet, Kim Perez, Todd Brendlin, Shari Rust and Michelle Prewitt; and 12 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be Monday, June 12, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Struve & Laporte Funeral Home, 41 West San Luis St., Salinas, CA. Mass will be held Tuesday, June 13, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church, 11140 Preston, Castroville, CA. A reception celebrating Mr. Boutonnet's life will be held immediately following the mass in the director's patio area at the California Rodeo Grounds in Salinas.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation in honor of his granddaughter Shari, 49 Stevenson St., San Francisco, CA 94105, or to the donor's favorite charity in Mr. Boutonnets memory.
