[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 157 (Wednesday, November 14, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2071]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 NOTING THE CLOSING OF AN ERA; THE RELOCATION OF JOLLY RANCHER CANDIES

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                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 14, 2001

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
contributions of the Jolly Rancher candy company and to express sadness 
that its factory in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, is closing next year after 
53 years of production.
  Bill and Dorothy Harmsen opened the Jolly Rancher factory in Wheat 
Ridge in 1949. They named the factory Jolly Rancher for the welcoming 
and western sound of the name. The couple started the business with 
chocolate and ice cream production. However, they soon found nation-
wide success in its line of fruit flavored hard candy.
  Bill and Dorothy sold the factory to Beatrice foods in 1966, but 
still stayed personally involved with production. Bill was known to 
come down to the factory in his bathrobe in the middle of the night if 
there was a problem. As a result of their hard work, the company grew, 
and has earned fame as a favorite all over the world.
  Currently, the factory produces about one million pounds of candy 
every week and employs three hundred and twenty people. The factory was 
eventually sold to Hershey who has decided to shut down the original 
production facility in Wheat Ridge and relocate it to another location.
  The growth and success of the Jolly Rancher factory is a real life 
example of the American Dream; with hard work and ingenuity anything is 
possible.
  Perhaps more impressive than the company's success, is the impact 
that the factory has made on the surrounding community. While the 
factory produces the flavor of the day, the aroma encompasses the 
surrounding community. The fruit fragrance makes mouths water and tests 
the culinary aptitude of children as they try to guess the flavor that 
the factory is making that day. Adults in the area remember touring the 
factory as children and being permitted to taste warm Jolly Ranchers 
right off the assembly line. Trick or treaters would go to the factory 
every Halloween to have loads of candy dumped into their Halloween 
sacks.
  This Colorado confectionery has delighted the sweet tooth of the 
community for decades. It is a landmark and member of the community. I 
join with others in the community to express my disappointment that 
this fixture of the community and example of small business success is 
being relocated.

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