[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 153 (Thursday, September 13, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1243-E1244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING MR. LORENZO CANDELARIA

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 13, 2018

  Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today 
to recognize Mr. Lorenzo Candelaria, whose family's farm has played an 
integral role in our community's food system and culture for over 300 
years. Mr. Candeleria is the owner of Cornelio Candelaria Organics, 
located in the South Valley.
  Mr. Candelaria's family has lived in New Mexico for 500 years and 
farmed in the Atrisco Valley for seven generations over the course of 
300 years. Originally, the Candeleria family farm produced crops such 
as corn, beans, squash, and New Mexico's world famous chiles. Mr. 
Candelaria has expanded to make other produce like cucumbers, melons, 
asparagus, and blackberries.
  Mr. Candelaria has also certified his land as USDA Organic, a 
significant investment that illustrates his desire to pass the farm 
down to future generations. He uses an acequia system to irrigate his 
land, an especially sustainable process that restores the underground 
water tables. Rather than focusing on only one crop, Mr. Candelaria is 
committed to responsible farming practices like crop rotation, which is 
healthier for soil fertility.
  Mr. Candelaria is also dedicated to teaching farming skills and life 
lessons to young people in our community. Every summer, he invites 
interns to work on the farm in order to learn about his responsible 
agricultural practices as well as how to operate the equipment. He also 
regularly invites student groups from local

[[Page E1244]]

schools to learn about agriculture and nutrition issues.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Lorenzo Candelaria for all the 
valuable contributions him and his family have made to our community. 
His organic produce has been a wonderful option for local shoppers and 
restaurants looking for healthy options, and his warmth and generosity 
have helped shape the lives of so many young people in the Albuquerque 
area.

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