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[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 185 (Wednesday, December 10, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2358-E2359]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                       HONORING FLORY INDUSTRIES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 10, 2008

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Flory 
Industries upon being inducted into the Agriculture Hall of Fame. Flory 
Industries will be honored at the 11th Annual Ag Hall of Fame Dinner on 
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at the Assyrian American Civic Club of 
Turlock.
  In 1909, the Flory family moved to their current location in Salida, 
California and settled their ranch. Innovation has been a key for the 
Flory family from the beginning. During the 1920s and early 1930s the 
family had a 100-cow grade ``B'' dairy. It is believed that they were 
the first family in the nation to have milking machines, the first to 
have a farm tractor in the area, and the first to convert from steel

[[Page E2359]]

tractor wheels to rubber tires. The operation expanded to include 
custom grain and bean harvesting. Harold Flory designed and built 2 
bean harvesters for use in their harvesting business. These 2 machines 
lasted from 1935 to 1974, for a total of 30 harvest seasons.
  In 1961, the first Flory pick-up harvester was built; it was a small 
three-point mounted, tractor-powered harvester that was primarily used 
for harvesting almonds. Flory Industries continued to grow with the 
times and in 1969 they introduced the self-propelled harvester with a 
4-foot pick-up width. This was the first in the agriculture industry to 
use a hydrostatic ground drive. In 1972, Flory once again met the needs 
of the industry by developing a self-propelled heavy-duty sweeper. The 
sweeper produced by Flory has continued to improve to meet the industry 
needs and today's diesel engine designs.
  Today, Flory Industries is still considered to be a leader in the 
field of nut-harvesting equipment, with sales in the worldwide market. 
Their equipment is used in the harvest of almonds, cashews, figs, 
hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, tung nuts, and walnuts. The technology 
of the equipment has improved over the past 7 decades to meet both the 
needs of the industry for efficient harvesting and the reduction of 
dust to improve air quality. The company's commitment to cleaner air is 
evident with the manufacturing of the brush shredder to eliminate the 
winter burning of orchard prunings. They continue to work with 
educational institutions including California Polytechnic State 
University, University of California at Davis, California State 
University, Fresno, and New Mexico State on environmental concerns.
  Flory Industries manufacturing facilities and offices are located on 
the original property purchased by the family almost 100 years ago. The 
company has been repairing and building farm equipment since 1936. 
Today, four generations work in the family business led by President 
Howard Flory.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Flory 
Industries upon its induction into the Agriculture Hall of Fame. I 
invite my colleagues to join me in wishing the company, and the Flory 
family, many years of continued growth and success.

                          ____________________
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