[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 151 (Friday, October 5, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2081]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING BURCHELL NURSERY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 5, 2007

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Burchell 
Nursery upon celebrating their 65th anniversary in the nursery 
business.
  Irvin Burchell began his small business with an acre and a half in 
central California, just outside of Modesto, in 1942. Mr. Burchell's 
idea was ``Plant good trees on good land, take care of them, and they 
will take care of you.'' Three generations later the company has grown 
to more than 1,000 acres, from 10,000 trees to 2.5 million. Burchell 
Nursery began with just peach trees. Today they grow peach, nectarine, 
cherry, apricot, plum, prune, apple, pomegranate, pistachio, citrus, 
almond, and walnut trees in more than 200 varieties.
  Irvin Burchell's focus on quality led to the development of the state 
of California's own tree certification program. The Nursery began in 
the 1960s and has worked toward eliminating viruses from commercial 
tree varieties and establishing clean sources of bud wood. They have 
created an ongoing sampling process to ensure virus-free trees. This 
has become the model that is used by the state today.
  Burchell Nursery changed hands in 1970 to Bill Burchell, who oversaw 
dramatic growth in the company. Through out the decade 700 acres were 
added in Oakdale, CA, and during the 1980s another branch was opened in 
Fresno, CA.
  Now in the third generation, Burchell Nursery is headed by Tom 
Burchell. Tom has renewed the company's focus on research. Tom has 
pioneered the development of the nursery's container tree lines. With 
special growing techniques, and a uniquely designed container, the 
program has expanded from about 8,000 container trees per year to more 
than 170,000 in 2006. The breeding program has also flourished under 
Tom, with more than 40 patented varieties to the nursery's credit.
  Burchell Nursery has been a constant leader in the community and in 
the state of California. To the state, Burchell Nursery has provided 
innovative ways of growing, nurturing and protecting trees from a 
number of viruses. In the local community, they have not only provided 
employment, but they have also given back in the form of donations and 
support to various groups. Burchell Nursery has always been a strong 
supporter of 4-H and Future Farmers of America. They have provided 
scholarships to outstanding agriculture students at Modesto Junior 
College and contributed trees to the orchards of elementary and 
secondary schools. They have also been active supporters of the 
agriculture research programs at Modesto Junior College, California 
State University at Fresno, University of California at Davis and have 
provided financial support to the Stanislaus County Agriculture Center.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Burchell 
Nursery on 65 years of business. I invite my colleagues to join me in 
wishing Burchell Nursery many years of continued success.

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