MONTEREY, CA - Long-time Ocean Mist veteran Hugo Tottino was awarded the E.E. “Gene” Harden Award for Lifetime Achievement in Central Coast Agriculture while surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues at the 77th annual Grower-Shipper Golf Tournament & Gala Events.
According to a press release, the momentous occasion took place at the GSA’s dinner dance on June 27th. Hugo was also honored by the U.S. House of Representatives and the County of Monterey for his significant contributions to Central Coast agriculture.
The award was given to him for his “enduring and substantial contributions to agriculture, and to his community,” having served with Ocean Mist alone for more than 60 years.
“Hugo is known as the “Artichoke Poster Boy” of Ocean Mist Farms and could not be a more deserving recipient of the Harden Award,” the association stated in a press release.
Hugo joined Ocean Mist back in 1947, when it was still the California Artichoke and Vegetable Growers Corporation. Growing up on his family’s 40 acres in Castroville, California, where he was born in September of 1926, he farmed artichokes, as well as Brussel’s sprouts and cauliflower, with his father from an early age.
He joined what is now Ocean Mist after serving in the military, having enlisted in the navy and serving two years at ports in San Francisco, Pearl Harbor, Guam, Saipan and Bikini from 1944 to 1947.
Over his career, Hugo has married his wife Dolores, had five children, as well as a number of grand and great grandchildren, continued working on is family farm, and eventually became one of the family owners/partners of Ocean Mist Farms.
He has been involved in a number of programs like Elkhorn Slough Foundation’s efforts to restore regional wetlands in north Monterey County, and utilization of alternative water sources to save thousands of crop acres. He is involved extensively in the Monterey community, and can still be found working at Ocean Mist six days a week.
Congratulations to Hugo on this recognition of all he has contributed.
