[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 99 (Thursday, June 11, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E567-E568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING LOUIS E. ``LOUIE'' PARREIRA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ADAM GRAY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 11, 2026

  Mr. GRAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Louis E. ``Louie'' 
Parreira, longtime Central Valley agricultural leader and almond 
industry pioneer, on the occasion of his 100th birthday.
  Mr. Parreira is best known as a founder of Parreira Almond Processing 
Company (PAPC/RPAC Almonds), a multi-generation family

[[Page E568]]

farming and almond processing operation based near Los Banos in 
California's San Joaquin Valley.
  Louie began his agriculture career as a dairy farmer, and over his 
lifetime, he was a Merced County Sheriff Posse member, a gravel truck 
driver, an irrigation equipment installer, a cotton harvester equipment 
educator, and, after retiring from RPAC's daily operations, an 
Agricultural Ambassador for State Fairs throughout the United States.
  Mr. Parreira helped build one of the early large-scale almond hulling 
and shelling operations in California during the 1970s alongside his 
wife Barbara and sons David and Paul Parreira. The company evolved into 
RPAC Almonds, which is now a major almond processor and exporter 
serving growers throughout California.
  Besides almonds, Louie and his wife Barbara grew cotton, fruit, row 
crops, and grains. He has been married to the love of his life for 77 
years. Louie and Barbara founded the Little Hands on the Farm 
experience at the Los Banos Fair and were both honored by the Los Banos 
Downtown Association as the 2021 Farm/Ag Leaders of the Year. Louie is 
also a graduate of Los Banos' Westside Union High School, and a member 
of the Future Farmers of America.
  It is my privilege to recognize Louie, who has spent 100 years 
guiding, nurturing, and advancing California agriculture and the Los 
Banos community. Please join me in honoring Louie E. Parreira on his 
centennial birthday.

                          ____________________