[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 89 (Thursday, May 25, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





        RECOGNIZING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF WAWONA FROZEN FOODS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KEVIN McCARTHY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 25, 2023

  Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 60th 
anniversary of Wawona Frozen Foods in the Central Valley. Since its 
founding in 1963, Wawona Frozen Foods and the Smittcamp family have 
produced some of America's favorite fruits, including plums, 
strawberries, pears, and more. However, Wawona is best known for its 
delicious peaches.
  In 1945, Earl Smittcamp returned home after fighting in the South 
Pacific as a United States Marine during World War II. Like many 
Americans seeking out the American Dream after the war, Earl and his 
wife, Muriel, embarked on their own journey and purchased a 200-acre 
farm at Minnewawa and Nees Avenues in Clovis, California from Muriel's 
father in 1946. Wawona Ranch was born, and it would soon become a 
fully-integrated agricultural operation led by Earl and his sons, Bill 
and the late Bob Smittcamp. Today, Wawona is a third generation, 
family-owned business located in the congressional district I proudly 
represent.
  Headquartered in Clovis and with additional processing plants in 
Fresno and Watsonville, Wawona Frozen Foods is a major employer and 
economic contributor to our community. Wawona ships more than 100 
million pounds of food annually to schools, retail stores, and the food 
service industry. Its delicious products can be found in the nation's 
largest supermarkets, restaurants, and resorts and are used by pastry 
manufacturers and in baby food. Most notably, Wawona processes over 65 
million pounds of peaches annually.
  Aside from the nutritious foods found in stores all throughout North 
America, the Smittcamp family has made lasting contributions in the 
community. They are dedicated to improving the quality of life through 
civic and philanthropic involvement with numerous community 
organizations, including Fresno State (and its Smittcamp Family Honors 
College), the Smittcamp Family Foundation, and Valley Children's 
Hospital. Bill and his wife, Linda, have lived in Clovis for nearly 50 
years and have three children: Blake and his wife Cherie, Brad and his 
wife Courtney, and Blair and her husband Nathan, all of whom work in 
the family business. Bill and Linda also have six grandchildren: Aubrey 
Rose, Austin, Beckett, Harvey, Savanna, and Teddy. The Smittcamp family 
can always be counted on to wish you a ``peachy day!''
  On behalf of the 20th Congressional District of California, I would 
like to congratulate Wawona Frozen Foods and the Smittcamp family on 60 
successful years in business and for their contributions to our 
community, California, and the Nation.

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