[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 56 (Friday, April 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E734-E735]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NISEI FARMERS LEAGUE

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 15, 2011

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleague Mr. Cardoza to 
congratulate the Nisei Farmers League on the occasion of its 40th 
anniversary celebration. The Nisei Farmers League has made a 
significant impact on the San Joaquin Valley and throughout California 
by representing the interest of growers, packers, processers and their 
employees. Over its 40 years of service, the Nisei Farmers League has 
helped to create a strong support network that helps western 
agricultural interests meet the many challenges faced in today's 
international marketplace.
  The Nisei Farmers League was founded in 1971 by a small group of 
Japanese-American growers who met to discuss the increasing challenges 
facing California agriculture. Within months of the original meeting 
more growers joined the group and the decision was made to take the 
name of ``Nisei,'' the term for second-generation Americans of Japanese 
ancestry. Under the direction of founder Mr. Harry Kubo, who served as 
leader of the league for 25 years, the organization worked to confront 
the challenges faced by small growers during farm union activities in 
the 1970s. Acting as a mutual protection society, the Nisei Farmers 
League has proven to be extremely effective in advocating on behalf of 
its members.
  Evolving over the years, the league is now a sophisticated voice for 
more than a thousand members representing the broad diversity of 
California and the western United States' farmers and ranchers, and 
advocates on an array of issues at the local, State and Federal levels.
  Today, led by Mr. Manuel Cunha, the Nisei Farmers League serves more 
than 1,100 growers, packers, and processors who grow and pack a diverse 
range of crops throughout California and the western United States. 
From the bountiful fields of California to the halls of the United 
States Congress, the Nisei Farmers League is respected and should be 
honored for its tireless efforts on behalf of western agriculture.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me and Mr. Cardoza in 
recognizing the hard work and dedication that the Nisei Farmers League 
has put forth throughout its many years of service to growers 
throughout California. I congratulate the Nisei Farmers League on its 
many years of dedicated and successful work in California, and wish the 
group many successful years to come.

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