[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 95 (Thursday, July 14, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1487]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         IN HONOR OF JOE NUCCI

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 14, 2005

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a man who 
was a rising star in the fresh produce industry. At age forty, Joe 
Nucci was one of the youngest leaders in his field. Tragically, Joe 
passed away suddenly July 7, 2005, while vacationing with his family in 
Florida.
  Joe was born and raised in Salinas, California. In 1983, he graduated 
from Salinas High School and went on to study for two years at Hartnell 
College. He completed his college education at California State 
University Chico and spent a year in Buffalo, New York working with JC 
Brock Fresh Foods. In 1989, Nucci returned to California to take a 
position at Mann Packing Company, which was run by his father, Don 
Nucci, and his father's business partner Bill Ramsey.
  One of Joe's first achievements at Mann Packing Company was finding a 
new use for a previously unpalatable product: broccoli stems. 
Impressing his coworkers and superiors with a new bagged broccoli 
coleslaw, it wasn't long before he advanced to Mann Packing Company's 
product development and quality assurance division, then to the 
position of vice president of marketing. In 2000, he became president 
and CEO of the Mann Packing Company. Under his leadership, the company 
grew at an unprecedented rate and became one of the produce industry's 
strongest innovators. The Produce Marketing Association recognized 
Joe's fairness, integrity, and innumerable talents and invited him to 
serve on their Board of Directors as secretary/treasurer. He was to 
become its chairman in 2006. His contributions to the United Fresh 
Fruit and Vegetable Association, the Produce for Better Health 
Foundation, and the International Fresh-cut Produce Association will 
not long be forgotten either.
  Joe Nucci made tremendous strides to better his industry, local 
community, and our Nation. He will be remembered for his innovation, 
his leadership, and his devotion to his family. He is survived by his 
wife, Debbie; two sons, Michael and Matthew; three sisters, Lorri Nucci 
Koster, Gina Nucci, and DeDe Nucci Reyna; father Don Nucci; and mother 
Barbara Manning. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise to 
honor the memory of Joe Nucci.

                          ____________________