[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16617]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING DAVID GILL FOR RECEIVING THE 2017 AWARD OF HONOR BY WESTERN 
                                GROWERS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF DENHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 25, 2017

  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I, along with my colleague Representative 
Jimmy Panetta, rise today to congratulate and honor Mr. David Gill, who 
was selected by Western Growers to receive the 2017 Award of Honor for 
his numerous contributions and esteemed leadership in the agriculture 
industry.
  Mr. Gill, a third generation California grower, began his 
agricultural career at age six by helping his father and grandfather 
install pipes on their farm. He continued working on his father's ranch 
while attending California Polytechnic State University. In 1979, he 
and his brother, Steve, founded Rio Farms in Ventura City. Then, in 
1983, they formed Gills Onions and pioneered the first system to 
deliver peeled, sliced, and diced onions in the food processing 
industry. It is now the largest onion processor in the United States.
  David has routinely advocated to Congress and the state legislature 
about the agriculture industry's most significant issues regarding 
labor, water, and regulatory compliance laws. Gills Onions has also 
focused on reducing their carbon footprint by developing a system that 
uses the waste from onion processing to generate electricity and 
eliminate disposal costs.
  As Gill Onions and Rio Farms continued to grow, David played an 
integral role in some of California's largest fresh vegetable 
companies, including Taylor Farms California Inc., Earthbound Farms, 
and Church Bros. LLC. In 1987, David and seven farmers formed Growers 
Express, one of the nation's largest suppliers of fresh vegetables.
  In addition to involvement in various business operations, David 
values a strong emphasis on community involvement and industry 
organizations. He has generously donated his time in leadership roles 
with Western Growers, Hartnell College Ag Steering, Grower Shipper 
Association of Central California, California Farm Bureau Federation, 
and Produce Marketing Association.
  Mr. Speaker, please join us in honoring and recognizing our friend 
for receiving Western Growers' 2017 Award of Honor. David Gill has 
provided innovative technology to the agricultural community and he 
continues to be a leading voice for change in the agriculture industry. 
God bless him always.

                          ____________________