[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 117 (Monday, September 19, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1888]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING GARY MOUNT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 19, 2005

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Gary Mount on being 
named the 2005 Apple Grower of the Year by American/Western Fruit 
Grower magazine, sponsored by Cerexagri. This award recognizes the 
progressive approaches, hard work, and dedication to learning of a 
leading apple grower. New Jersey can be proud to have a native son 
singled out from among all the apple growers around the Nation.
  Mount, a resident of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, has honed his growing 
skills along with his wife Pam, co-owner of Terhune Orchards in 
Princeton. Although Mount had grown up on his father's 300-acre apple 
farm, he did not originally plan on a farming career. Instead, Mount 
graduated from Princeton University with a degree in physiological 
psychology and had planned on pursing his Ph.D. It was only after his 
experience of joining the Peace Corps and serving in the Central 
Pacific islands of Micronesia that Mount decided to dedicate his life 
to farming.
  For the past 30 years, Mount has continually pursued his quest to 
discover the best and most innovative farming techniques. Mount has 
demonstrated this commitment by attending industry meetings including 
serving as a member of the International Dwarf Fruit Tree Association, 
IDFTA for more than 25 years and on the board of directors for 11 
years. Additionally, Mount has been treasurer of the New Jersey State 
Hort Society for about 12 years, former president of the New Jersey 
State Board of Agriculture, a New Jersey water commissioner for many 
years, and currently, a soil conservation district supervisor. Active 
also in New Jersey Farmland Preservation, Mount's efforts have helped 
growers pass on their land without fear of it being developed.
  Throughout his farming career, Mount has also considered it a top 
priority to have an environmentally sound approach to farming. 
Particularly on pest management issues, Mount has worked with Extension 
agents from Rutgers University to develop an integrated pest 
management, IPM program at Terhune Orchards. By informing his neighbors 
about his approach to pest management, and then, creating a poster with 
specialists at Rutgers explaining the practices and benefits of IPM 
that is displayed at farm markets, Mount has developed a trusting 
relationship with consumers who feel confident that the fruit they 
purchase has not been fertilized with hazardous chemicals.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the entire 12th district of New Jersey, I 
ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating Gary Mount on 
his 2005 Apple Grower of the Year award.

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