[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 132 (Friday, September 7, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1831]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CELEBRATING FRUIT GROWERS SUPPLY COMPANY CENTENNIAL

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                            HON. DEVIN NUNES

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 7, 2007

  Mr. NUNES. Madam Speaker. I rise today to honor and congratulate 
Fruit Growers Supply Company as it celebrates its 100th anniversary.
  Fruit Growers Supply Company was born out of adversity. Organized in 
1907 by the members of the Southern California Fruit Growers Exchange 
(now known as Sunkist Growers) it owes its beginnings to the infamous 
1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. Following that disaster, the 
demand for lumber for rebuilding increased dramatically--and lumber 
used (or citrus crates became very scarce and very expensive. The 
Exchange members formed a separate cooperative, Fruit Growers Supply, 
to assure the availability of the materials needed to grow, harvest, 
package and ship it member's citrus.
  FGS worked with small lumber companies to obtain boxes at a 
reasonable cost. As citrus production increased, Fruit Growers 
continued to expand, purchasing additional timberlands in Northern 
California. While FGS no longer owns any sawmills, it still is one of 
the largest private landowners in California, with additional recently 
acquired holdings in Oregon and Washington.
  In 1916, to meet the growing needs of its members, FGS opened its 
first Operations Center in Porterville to warehouse supplies needed for 
the citrus industry. Today, FGS has six Operations Centers throughout 
the growing regions of California and Arizona available to serve its 
grower and packer members.
  In the early 1950s the citrus industry began replacing the standard 
wooden box with fiberboard cartons. In 1961, FGS built its first carton 
plant to assure its members of a lower cost, higher quality container 
in which to ship their Sunkist citrus. Today, FGS' highly efficient 
corrugated manufacturing plant in Ontario, California produces millions 
of cartons, not only for Sunkist citrus, but for other agricultural 
producers as well.
  FGS' member support continues to expand as needs change. When citrus 
growers needed efficient water delivery systems, they turned to FGS to 
design the systems and provide technical support. FGS now is one of the 
irrigation leaders in agriculture.
  FGS also owns a manufacturing facility through a subsidiary, United 
Wholesale Lumber Company, in Visalia, California. United is one of the 
largest suppliers of pallets to the West Coast shipping industry. In 
2002, FGS acquired a group which provides wax and related equipment and 
services to the agricultural industry. Renamed FGS Packing Services, 
the groups business grew 50 percent in its first 3 years with FGS.
  Fruit Growers' proud heritage and ongoing efforts to best serve the 
needs of its members, and the agricultural community, stand it in good 
stead for its next 100 years.
  I ask all members to join me in honoring Fruit Growers Supply Company 
upon the celebration of its centennial and in commending Fruit Growers 
for its past and present commitment to providing services and support 
to the agricultural community.

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