[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4282]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING FROZEN FOOD MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JAIME HERRERA BEUTLER

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 27, 2012

  Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, today I stand in acknowledgement of 
Frozen Food Month, and to recognize an industry's significant efforts 
to ensure families and schoolchildren across America have access to 
healthy, affordable foods.
  Few other foods offer consumers the benefits and flexibility of 
frozen foods. Frozen fruits, vegetables and entrees help busy moms and 
dads easily prepare quality meals at home, allowing for more family 
time spent around the dinner table. In school cafeterias, lunch 
planners rely on frozen foods to help stretch limited budgets and serve 
healthy meals kids enjoy eating. And frozen fruits and vegetables, with 
their year-round availability and outstanding nutritional value, make 
it easy for everyone to eat more fruits and vegetables at home, at 
school and on the go.
  Consumer appreciation for the value frozen foods offer has catapulted 
sales in this rapidly-growing industry to over $60 billion. With nearly 
700 frozen food facilities employing nearly 100,000 Americans 
nationwide, its economic footprint is significant. Forty of those 
frozen food operations are located in my home state of Washington.
  In recognition of Frozen Food Month, I take this opportunity to honor 
one of Washington state's very own, National Frozen Foods Corporation, 
headquartered in Seattle. National Frozen Foods is celebrating an 
impressive 100 years as a leader in the frozen food industry this year.
  National's history began in 1912 when William McCaffray, Sr. began a 
small strawberry-freezing operation on a $5,000 loan from a friend. 
Recognizing the advantages of frozen food production and building on 
his early success, the company began freezing vegetables in the 1930s. 
Today, National Frozen Foods has grown to be one of the nation's 
premiere private-label frozen vegetable producers, employing some 670 
workers throughout the year. Their Chehalis, Washington, facility is in 
the heart of the district I represent.
  National's commitment to continuing improvement through innovation--
not only at a company level, but as an industry leader--is clear. 
National Frozen Foods President and CEO Richard H. Grader is a former 
chairman and longtime member of the board of directors of the American 
Frozen Food Institute. In his current role as chairman of the Frozen 
Food Foundation, Mr. Grader guides the foundation's efforts to better 
educate consumers and the general public about the considerable 
nutritional and food safety attributes offered by frozen foods.
  The impact that National Frozen Foods Corporation has had on the 
industry and on the economy of Southwest Washington, Washington state, 
and the positive impact that the industry continues to have on this 
nation are immeasurable. I applaud the frozen food industry and the 
management and employees of National Frozen Foods Corporation for your 
hard work and your contribution to America.