[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 176 (Tuesday, December 9, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING THE PEREZ BROTHERS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 8, 2003

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Perez 
Brothers upon their induction into the 2003 Stanislaus County Ag Center 
Foundation Ag Hall of Fame. Their contributions to agriculture have 
been felt across the nation. The brothers, Tom, Earl, Daniel, and Mike, 
will be honored at the 2003 Ag Hall of Fame Dinner on December 4 at the 
Stanislaus County Ag Center in California.
  The Perez Brothers have been leaders in the agricultural industry 
since the 1940s, but the legacy was started earlier by their father, 
Juan, in northern Spain. In the early 1900s, the search for greater 
opportunities led Mr. Perez to California. In 1936, the family moved to 
the San Joaquin Valley and started farming 280 acres. Their father had 
visions of the valley being rich in agriculture. Today, with an 
operation that stretches nearly 80 miles, the brothers farm over 8,000 
acres of melons, beans, cotton, tree crops, and, most-notably, 
tomatoes. The family is one of the largest tomato shippers in the 
country.
  The family's commitment to the environment and to agricultural and 
community organizations has been evident through the years. The 
brothers have served on several boards and committees and offer their 
time to numerous community organizations. Harvesting with the latest 
and cleanest machinery, as well as the support offered for research and 
improvements in farming, have earned the Perez Brothers an earth-
friendly reputation.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to commend the Perez Brothers for 
their induction into the 2003 Stanislaus County Ag Center Foundation Ag 
Hall of Fame. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing the Perez 
Brothers continued success.

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