[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 18024-18025]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARS INCORPORATED FACILITY IN GREENVILLE, 
                              MISSISSIPPI

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 2, 2013

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 
35th anniversary of the Mars, Incorporated manufacturing facility in 
Greenville, Mississippi--an important institution in our community 
since its opening in 1978.
  Mars, Incorporated is a family-owned, American company that started 
when Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his kitchen in 1911. 
Today, Mars is a global company that employs more than 72,000 
Associates worldwide with more than one third of them being employed 
here in the United States. The company's investment in its Associates 
has earned it a place on Fortune magazine's list of ``100 Best 
Companies to Work For.''

[[Page 18025]]

  At the Greenville facility, Mars Food North America makes products 
bearing some of America's favorite brands, including Uncle 
Ben's', which is the number one rice brand in the United 
States. Our Greenville facility also makes products for the Seeds of 
Change' brand, which makes organically grown seeds and 
Organic Food products. I'm proud to congratulate Seeds of 
Change' on winning a 2013 Vegetarian Times Foodie Award.
  Mars' Greenville facility has played a significant role in the health 
of our local economy. Over 160 people work in the facility, which 
originally opened with just 5 packaging lines and 1 processing line. 
The facility has repeatedly expanded to house additional lines and 
manufacturing areas, and Mars continues to invest in our economy as it 
completes a $42 million multi-year investment in the facility.
  I am thankful that Mars' investments and longstanding relationship 
with our community extend beyond the facility. Mars supports Greenville 
public schools through its Blessings in a Backpack program, and worked 
to help improve the local Boys and Girls Clubs in the region. Mars Food 
has also done its part to encourage healthy cooking and eating from a 
young age by having the Uncle Ben's' brand launch its 
nationwide Ben's BeginnersTM Cooking Contest.
  This Friday, I will be honored to join state and local officials in 
Greenville to commemorate this longstanding relationship through a 
special celebration. Again, I congratulate Mars for reaching this 35-
year milestone and hope that this facility will continue to be a member 
of our community for many more decades to come.

                          ____________________