[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 129 (Wednesday, September 29, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1989]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CONGRATULATING LION RAISINS GRAND OPENING

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 1999

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lion Raisins on 
the Grand Opening of California's newest raisin processing facility. 
After four generations, Lion Raisins still strives to deliver quality 
and service beyond their customer's expectations.
  In 1903, Alex Lion established one of the first raisin packing 
facilities in Fresno, California, named Lion Raisins. He packed raisins 
for the first time, probably Muscats since that was the principal 
variety at that time. He shipped them by train to Chicago. The price of 
raisins dropped while they were in route, causing the buyers to reject 
them. Alex went by train to Chicago and spent several weeks there 
selling raisins on the streets. His packing career was somewhat 
sporadic after that, according to his grandson, Al Lion. The first 
actual packing was done on the farm that the family owned at Kings and 
Highland. Later they had a packing house on ``H'' Street, and then in 
1923 or 1926 the packinghouse was built at the present site at 
California Avenue and Second Street.
  During this time Alfred Lion, Alex's son, was living in San Francisco 
and was involved in the selling there. His father called him back to 
take an active part in the packing operation. He took over the 
management after his father's death in 1963.
  Brother's Herb and Al entered the family business; Herb in 1947 and 
Al in 1957. For years, until Herb's retirement in 1991, the brothers 
shared responsibilities, with one managing the business end of the 
operation, and the other the packing. They alternated responsibilities 
every year. In recent years, Al's sons, Larry and John, were active in 
the business for a time. Larry worked from 1970 to 1981. John worked in 
the plant from 1974-1975. Herb Lion died in July 1995.
  Four generations later, Lion Raisins is the largest family owned and 
operated raisin processing facility in California. For nearly 100 
years, the Lion family has been committed to the raisin industry and a 
vital part of the San Joaquin Valley. Today Lion Raisins processes 
nearly 50,000 tons of California raisins annually, and distributes them 
around the world under the Lion brand label. This has led them to be 
the largest independent raisin packing company in the area in terms of 
tonnage packed and sold.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise to congratulate Lion 
Raisins in the grand opening of California's newest raisin processing 
facility. Lion Raisins has been a model business, after four 
generations of delivering quality and service beyond customer 
expectations; through commitment, pride, and integrity. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in wishing Lion Raisins many more years of 
continued success.

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