Hugo Tottino Receives E.E. Harden Award

The 77th annual Grower-Shipper Golf Tournament & Gala Events were highlighted by the presentation of the Association's E.E. "Gene" Harden Award for Lifetime Achievement in Central Coast Agriculture to Hugo Tottino. Surrounded by his family, friends and colleagues, Mr. Tottino was honored at GSA’s dinner dance on June 27 for his enduring and substantial contributions to agriculture, and to his community. Hugo was also honored by the U.S. House of Representatives and the County of Monterey for his significant contributions to Central Coast agriculture.

Hugo Tottino was born in his family home near Castroville, California on September 28, 1926 to Alfred and Emilia Tottino. He grew up on his family’s 40 acres, farming artichokes, Brussel’s sprouts and cauliflower with his father. He attended Castroville Elementary School as a child, and later graduated from Salinas High School in 1944. After high school, Hugo enlisted in the navy where he served for two years at ports in San Francisco, Pearl Harbor, Guam, Saipan and Bikini.

After returning home from military service, Mr. Tottino began working for the California Artichoke and Vegetable Growers Corporation (now Ocean Mist Farms) in 1947. His early work there included loading artichokes onto trucks and rail cars. During this time, Hugo also continued to tend his family’s 40 acres. In 1949 Hugo met his wife, Dolores. The two were married in 1951 and have five children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Today, Mr. Tottino is one of the family owners/partners of Ocean Mist Farms, where he can still be found six days a week.

Along with his “day job” as a grower, Hugo Tottino has also given greatly of his time and resources to many other projects, such as the Castroville Seawater Intrusion Project (CSIP), the 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. His extensive community involvement includes work with North Monterey County Fire Department, Native Sons of the Golden West, Castroville Rotary, Salinas Elks Lodge, Ausonio Library, Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church, Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, North Monterey County High School, North County Parks and Recreation, the Food Bank of Monterey County, and the Castroville Artichoke Festival. Hugo was also a founding member of the Artichoke Advisory Board in 1960 and has served as a director since its inception.

Hugo is known as the “Artichoke Poster Boy” of Ocean Mist Farms and could not be a more deserving recepient of the Harden Award.

Source: Grower-Shipper Association of Central California