[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 27 (Friday, February 18, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E311]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING BRUCE TAYLOR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF DENHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 18, 2011

  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor Bruce 
Taylor for receiving a Citizen of the Year Award from the Salinas 
Valley Chamber of Commerce for his contributions to community 
organizations last year.
  Bruce, the founder and CEO of Taylor Farms based in Salinas, 
contributed to many causes in the Salinas Valley and nationwide, 
including the Boys & Girls Club of Monterey, Salinas Valley Memorial 
Hospital, the National Steinbeck Center, and local high schools.
  Bruce Taylor is a third generation member of one of the most 
innovative lettuce grower and producer families in the country. 
Taylor's father, Ted, successfully implemented novel techniques to wrap 
and gas lettuce in order to give it a longer shelf life. In 1981, 
Taylor joined the newest family business, which he later named Fresh 
Express, and rose through the ranks quickly to become chairman in 1991 
where he led the introduction of ``salad in a bag'' in grocery stores 
across the country.
  In 1994, he left to start Taylor Farms, which has become the world 
leader in the production of ready-made salad fixings for the restaurant 
industry. His new company, which produces fresh-cut vegetables and 
salads for large foodservice customers such as McDonald's, Subway, and 
Red Lobster, has $400 million in annual revenues through nine 
processing facilities in the United States and Australia.
  Lately, Mr. Taylor is repeating his history of renovating landmark 
business sites in Salinas. With Fresh Express, he helped convert an old 
Nestle's site into the company's main salad plant. For Taylor Farms, 
next up is a former Smucker's site. Taylor companies will shortly be 
operating about 600,000 square feet of commercial space in Salinas. In 
a time when California is facing high unemployment levels, it is good 
to see a leader such as Taylor investing in the community.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Bruce Taylor on his reception 
of the Citizen of the Year Award from the Salinas Chamber of Commerce 
and wishing him the utmost success as he continues to serve his 
community and our Nation.

                          ____________________