[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 149 (Monday, October 19, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      TRIBUTE TO RICHARD W. NUTTER

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 19, 1998

  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man who 
has, by his record of service to the agriculture industry, raised the 
standard for the profession. On July 27, 1998, Richard W. Nutter 
retired from 28 years of unparalleled service as Monterey County's 
Agricultural Commissioner and I wish to respectfully honor his deeds.
  Under Mr. Nutter's leadership, the Monterey County Agriculture 
Commissioner's Office has developed into one of the highest qualify 
work performance organizations in the Nation. The ``Salad Bowl of the 
Nation'' harvests eighty percent of all head lettuce during peak months 
and leads the Nation in the production of several other vegetables and 
strawberries. Recent statistics show that the county grows well over 
two billion dollars of crops annually including exports.
  Through Mr. Nutter's vision he lead the vanguard for farm worker 
safety, raised standards of quality for fruits and vegetables, and 
developed superior pesticide control programs that are recognized 
world-wide as innovative and effective. He fully assisted in the 
development of the California Organic Food Act, the registration of 
farm labor contractors, agricultural chemical recycling, field safety 
posting requirements and the functional equivalent of an Environmental 
Impact Report for pesticide application to protect applicators and the 
public alike.
  He initiated projects during his service to protect and promote 
agriculture, the environment, and the public welfare which is meant to 
assure consumer and business confidence in the marketplace. Those 
endeavors involved food safety, water use and conservation, land use, 
voluntary agricultural land conservation, farm worker pesticide 
exposure monitoring and he established standards to maintain the 
quality of products intended for export and international trade.
  By his record of accomplishments, Mr. Nutter has distinguished 
himself as a factual, logical, visionary resource to members of the 
agriculture community and is a reference to local, state and federal 
legislators. His long-term record of volunteer service to the community 
enhances his professional role and enriches those who benefit from his 
commitment.
  When I observe Mr. Nutter's accomplishments, I acknowledge a man of 
integrity and principle. He is an admirable public servant, and I am 
pleased to note, a personal friend. He is an ally of agriculture who 
never dodged his responsibility to those who nurture the corps that 
feed us and certainly not to those who depend on it's wholesomeness for 
sustenance.
  It is not at his retirement alone that he is honored, but rather for 
his tireless service to assure that his responsibilities were 
discharged with informed authority and with the intelligent dignity of 
a man so well suited to this important position of public trust.

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