[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13384]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               100TH ANNIVERSARY OF CLARKDALE FRUIT FARMS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 29, 2015

  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, on July 19th, I had the wonderful 
opportunity to attend the Centennial Event at the Clarkdale Fruit Farm 
in Deerfield, Massachusetts and celebrate 100 years of family business.
  The Clarkdale Fruit Farm has generated tremendous good will and 
contributions to our community. I love this farm and all it stands for. 
Locally grown fresh fruit--apples, peaches, nectarines, plums and 
pears--all on beautiful land preserved for farming.
  The Clark family are not only great farmers and great business 
people. They are not only great community activists. They're really 
incredible, nice people.
  This is a family who works hard and cares deeply about the community.
  I want to say a special thanks to Tom and Ben Clark for inviting me 
to join them on their beautiful farm--truly a gem in the Pioneer 
Valley. I also want to thank the rest of the Clark family: Becky 
Clark--Ben's mother and Tom's wife, Lori Clark--Ben's wife, and Emerson 
Clark--Ben and Lori's son. The farm is a wonderful place and they have 
so much to be proud of.
  It was a thrill to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Clarkdale 
Fruit Farms, which has a rich history and a special place in the 
agricultural heritage of Central Massachusetts.
  Clarkdale Fruit Farms is also a leading example of what sustainable 
agriculture can accomplish, supporting many of our region's local 
businesses and communities.
  As we commemorate the 100th anniversary, we are not just celebrating 
the past. We are also celebrating the future.
  Clarkdale Fruit Farm is helping to keep Massachusetts agriculture 
vibrant and strong and I look forward to their continued success in the 
years to come.

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