Floor SpeechCeremonial2026-06-11

HONORING LOUIS E. "LOUIE" PARREIRA

TaxesTradeLaborAgriculture

Context

On 2026-06-11, Representative Adam Gray (D-CA-13) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING LOUIS E. "LOUIE" PARREIRA" in the House.

Full Text

HONORING LOUIS E. "LOUIE" PARREIRA

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 99 (Thursday, June 11, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 99 (Thursday, June 11, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E567-E568] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING LOUIS E. ``LOUIE'' PARREIRA ______ HON. ADAM GRAY of california in the house of representatives Thursday, June 11, 2026 Mr. GRAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Louis E. ``Louie'' Parreira, longtime Central Valley agricultural leader and almond industry pioneer, on the occasion of his 100th birthday. Mr. Parreira is best known as a founder of Parreira Almond Processing Company (PAPC/RPAC Almonds), a multi-generation family [[Page E568]] farming and almond processing operation based near Los Banos in California's San Joaquin Valley. Louie began his agriculture career as a dairy farmer, and over his lifetime, he was a Merced County Sheriff Posse member, a gravel truck driver, an irrigation equipment installer, a cotton harvester equipment educator, and, after retiring from RPAC's daily operations, an Agricultural Ambassador for State Fairs throughout the United States. Mr. Parreira helped build one of the early large-scale almond hulling and shelling operations in California during the 1970s alongside his wife Barbara and sons David and Paul Parreira. The company evolved into RPAC Almonds, which is now a major almond processor and exporter serving growers throughout California. Besides almonds, Louie and his wife Barbara grew cotton, fruit, row crops, and grains. He has been married to the love of his life for 77 years. Louie and Barbara founded the Little Hands on the Farm experience at the Los Banos Fair and were both honored by the Los Banos Downtown Association as the 2021 Farm/Ag Leaders of the Year. Louie is also a graduate of Los Banos' Westside Union High School, and a member of the Future Farmers of America. It is my privilege to recognize Louie, who has spent 100 years guiding, nurturing, and advancing California agriculture and the Los Banos community. Please join me in honoring Louie E. Parreira on his centennial birthday. ____________________

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HONORING LOUIS E. "LOUIE" PARREIRA Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 99 (Thursday, June 11, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 99 (Thursday, June 11, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E567-E568] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING LOUIS E. ``LOUIE'' PARREIRA ______ HON. ADAM GRAY of california in the house of representatives Thursday, June 11, 2026 Mr. GRAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Louis E. ``Louie'' Parreira, longtime Central Valley agricultural leader and almond industry pioneer, on the occasion of his 100th birthday. Mr. Parreira is best known as a founder of Parreira Almond Processing Company (PAPC/RPAC Almonds), a multi-generation family [[Page E568]] farming and almond processing operation based near Los Banos in California's San Joaquin Valley. Louie began his agriculture career as a dairy farmer, and over his lifetime, he was a Merced County Sheriff Posse member, a gravel truck driver, an irrigation equipment installer, a cotton harvester equipment educator, and, after retiring from RPAC's daily operations, an Agricultural Ambassador for State Fairs throughout the United States. Mr. Parreira helped build one of the early large-scale almond hulling and shelling operations in California during the 1970s alongside his wife Barbara and sons David and Paul Parreira. The company evolved into RPAC Almonds, which is now a major almond processor and exporter serving growers throughout California. Besides almonds, Louie and his wife Barbara grew cotton, fruit, row crops, and grains. He has been married to the love of his life for 77 years. Louie and Barbara founded the Little Hands on the Farm experience at the Los Banos Fair and were both honored by the Los Banos Downtown Association as the 2021 Farm/Ag Leaders of the Year. Louie is also a graduate of Los Banos' Westside Union High School, and a member of the Future Farmers of America. It is my privilege to recognize Louie, who has spent 100 years guiding, nurturing, and advancing California agriculture and the Los Banos community. Please join me in honoring Louie E. Parreira on his centennial birthday. ____________________