[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 5262-5263]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 ERIN TORMEY, FARMER OF THE YEAR AWARD

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 3, 2017

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a special spirit 
that glides along the coast of San Mateo County throughout the year. 
Her name is Erin Tormey and she is being honored by the Half Moon Bay 
Chamber of Commerce as Farmer of the Year. For all the farmers who have 
been recognized, Erin Tormey is certainly an awardee who stands out. 
She is an exceptional leader, inspirational personality, and an 
outstanding businesswoman. She is also deeply admired by all who know 
her, and for good reason.
  Erin is the founder of the Half Moon Bay Farmers Market and the 
Pacifica Farmers Market. Since 2002 in Half Moon Bay, and 2007 in 
Pacifica, Erin has orchestrated a nutritious public health extravaganza 
for coastal residents. Her market draws producers and shoppers from 
distant points to offer quality fruits and vegetables at reasonable 
prices to local residents and to visitors.
  By county standards, Erin Tormey is relatively new to agriculture, 
starting the Irish Ridge Ranch in 1996. She raises Heritage Layer hens 
and operates an apple orchard that grows Rare Pioneer and Heritage 
Apples. Once established, Erin branched out to establish the farmers 
market and became active in community improvement through her advocacy 
for healthy farm products.
  She recognized that many families did not know about the benefits of 
fresh produce and vegetables. Working with the State of California, her 
market was selected to participate as a pilot site for MARKET WATCH, a 
program to encourage low income families and seniors to shop at farmers 
markets. The market promotes nutrition education and was a statewide 
leader in participating in the WIC program. Low income families of our 
coastal communities count on Erin and her fellow farmers to balance 
their diets and to help them maintain healthy eating habits.
  Erin's dedication to the coastside extends beyond farming to 
education and to public engagement. She was the inaugural executive 
director of the Cabrillo Education Foundation. Imagine rising before 
the sun, harvesting eggs for the day, getting your children ready for 
school, and then raising your hand to raise money for their education. 
I note that she doesn't rise with the sun. That would be too late. Erin 
Tormey challenges the sun to rise and to keep up with her while she 
powers through her day.
  In addition to her other accomplishments, Erin is a founding Director 
of the HEAL Project, an award-winning curriculum that teaches math and 
science through lessons drawn from agriculture. She is also a founding 
member of the San Mateo Food Systems Alliance. Among its many purposes, 
the group encourages gardens in schools to teach students about 
nutrition, cooperates with our local food bank, and encourages non-
farmers to educate themselves about farming and its challenges.
  California's agricultural leadership has recognized Erin's talents. 
She was appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to a Direct Marketing 
Ad-hoc Committee, as an alternate, to help rework legislation governing 
certified Farmers Markets. She was also appointed to a 3-year term on 
the steering committee of the California Alliance of Certified Farmers 
Markets.
  Finally, I know Erin well because we cooperate annually in producing 
one of the high points of the year for 700 seniors in San Mateo county 
and San Francisco: My annual Seniors on the Move conference held in San 
Mateo includes a segment to teach attendees about fresh food 
preparation and eating well to enhance their health and well-being. 
Erin's cheerful face and enthusiastic promotion of fresh fruits and 
vegetables are the highlight of this day. Seniors run or walk as 
swiftly as possible to where the free bags of fresh fruit and 
vegetables are dispensed.

[[Page 5263]]

  Mr. Speaker, I ask the Members of the House of Representatives to 
join me in honoring Erin Tormey on the occasion of her selection as 
Farmer of the Year. Her hens know her as the careful steward of their 
production but we know Erin as the thoughtful steward of our health and 
community spirit. May both her flock and we, her friends, neighbors and 
customers, thrive in the years ahead

                          ____________________