[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 95 (Thursday, June 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN HONOR OF ANTHONY COSTA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 21, 2012

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Anthony Costa on the 
occasion of his recognition by the Grower Shipper Association with its 
prestigious E.E. ``Gene'' Harden Award for Lifetime Achievement in 
Central Coast Agriculture. The Ag Leadership Award is presented to the 
individual, company, group, association, or agency that has made a 
significant contribution to the agricultural community in the Salinas 
Valley.
  Anthony Costa, or Tony, as he is known by most, was born in Wakefield 
Massachusetts and is the oldest of seven children. He came to 
California on a train with his aunt and uncle when he was eleven years 
old, settling in the San Joaquin Valley town of Los Banos. He graduated 
high school in 1946, and later served our nation in the U.S. Army 
during the Korean War. After leaving the service, he found his way to 
Salinas, California, where he met and married Salinas Valley native 
Elsie Bassi. Elsie was born and raised in the Soledad Mission District, 
graduated from San Jose State University, and was a school teacher.
  In 1956, the young Costa couple began farming on a ranch outside of 
Soledad. As their family grew, so did their farming operation. For over 
fifty-six years, the Costa Family has dedicated itself to being quality 
growers of more than twenty different vegetable row crops in the 
Salinas Valley. Their original small operation has grown to encompass 
strategically owned and leased ground up and down the Salinas Valley. 
The family also runs year-round harvest operations, field-to-cooler 
trucking, joint ventures in Huron, Yuma and Imperial Valley crops, and 
partnership interests in cooling and processing operations. Their 
farming operation has been a key supplier to several shippers and 
processors in the area for many years.
  The Costa Family Farms is a family farm in every sense of the word. 
And while the award singles out Tony for recognition, it is really a 
recognition of the whole Costa family. The family continues to farm the 
original ranch which they leased for many years. Their business now 
involves three generations of family members including their children 
David, Michael, Diane, and JoAnn, who are joined by their grandchildren 
Colby Rubbo and Peter Dossche. Several other grandchildren are pursuing 
agricultural degrees. They have built a remarkable operation that 
bridges the old produce world of trust and handshakes and the new 
modern world of food safety and product traceability.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that I speak for the whole House in offering Tony 
and Elsie Costa and their whole family our heartfelt congratulations on 
their recognition by the well deserved honor of E.E. ``Gene'' Harden 
Award for Lifetime Achievement in Central Coast Agriculture.

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