[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 127 (Friday, August 2, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E795]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING MR. GEORGE CARATAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID G. VALADAO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 2, 2024

  Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. George 
Caratan on his retirement from the Board of Directors at the Delano 
Growers Grape Products. Mr. Caratan is a native of the Central Valley. 
From an early age, he learned the values of hard work and perseverance, 
spending his youth assisting his father with the family grape-growing 
business, Anton Caratan & Son in Delano. Mr. Caratan graduated from St. 
Mary's High School in Moraga Valley and then attended St. Mary's 
College. After his studies, he returned to the family business where he 
established his career in the agriculture industry. In 1940, Caratan & 
Son joined Delano Growers Grape Products (DGGP), a cooperative of grape 
farmers in the Central Valley. Mr. Caratan was selected as a board 
member of Delano Growers Grape Products in 1953. For 71 years, Mr. 
Caratan has helped lead Delano Growers Grape Products through the 
development of the grape growing business in the Central Valley, and 
his expertise and passion for the industry has been crucial to their 
success. Mr. Caratan's commitment to agricultural innovation was 
instrumental in the commercialization of two table grape varieties--
rouge and blanc seedless grapes. Mr. Caratan has also dedicated his 
career to serving on several boards, including the Kern Tulare and Rag 
Gulch Water District, the California Fresh Fruit Association, and the 
American Slavonic Social Club. In 2014, Mr. Caratan received the 
Lifetime Achievement Award by the California Fresh Fruit Association in 
recognition of his significant contributions to the industry. The 
success of the Central Valley agriculture industry owes much to the 
dedication of our community's growers, and I want to thank Mr. Caratan 
for his commitment to innovative, high-quality and delicious grapes.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues in the House of Representatives 
to join me in celebrating Mr. George Caratan on his incredible career. 
His service to the Central Valley agriculture industry will be felt for 
generations to come.

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