[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 25, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E305]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO VICTOR PACKING OF MADERA, CA

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. GEORGE P. RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 25, 1997

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
Sahatdjian family of Madera, CA who own and operate Victor Packing. As 
farmers in the No. 1 agricultural county in the world, the Sahatdjian's 
are leaders in the grape industry.
  In a recent article in the Armenian General Benevolent Union [AGBU] 
magazine, the Sahatdjian's are praised for their outstanding 
contribution to the San Joaquin Valley. The Sahatdjian family arrived 
in Fresno in 1924, after fleeing their home in Ezerum, Turkey because 
of the Armenian Genocide. Their father Vagharshag (Victor), mother 
Makrouhi and brothers Sarkis and Haig, arrived in the United States 
when they were 1\1/2\ and 4 years old. Farming and agriculture became a 
way of life as Victor, a former leather tanner, his wife, and children 
followed the crops along with many other migrant farm workers. The 
family went from Rio Vista near Sacramento to pack asparagus, back to 
Fresno to harvest figs and grapes and then to Northern California when 
peaches were in season. Eventually, the family settled in Fresno after 
Victor bought a vineyard of his own and began farming the land.
  The Depression brought hard times for all in the Valley and the 
Sahatdjian family provided for members of their extended family by 
sharing with them the crops grown on their farm. In 1949, Victor 
purchased a 40-acre piece of land which would eventually become the 
base of Victor Packing. In 1963, Victor Packing became a full-time 
farming and packing business when Sarkis and Haig Sahatdjian began to 
process and pack their own raisins along with the raisins of other 
growers.
  Desire, ingenuity, and business savvy paid off for the Sahatdjian 
brothers. Today, Victor Packing is known as one of the leading packing 
houses in the Fresco County area. They are the world's largest in 
production and market-share of golden raisins. They also have the 
world's largest dehydrator which allows them to produce more raisins at 
a time for their clients. Additionally, they have continued to focus 
their efforts on the sun-dried raisin market and are expanding globally 
to manufacturers all over the world. Nearly 75 percent of their 
finished product is shipped to the Middle East, Far East, Europe, and 
the Pacific rim.
  Mr. Speaker, Victor Packing is an example of the determination and 
hard work Victor Sahatdjian represented to his family his whole life. 
The Victor Packing logo is the Liberty Bell and is said to represent 
the land of freedom that the family found in the United States of 
America. I ask my colleagues to join me as I offer my best wishes to 
the entire Sahatdjian family for every continued success.

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