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Congressional Daily Record
This section is a tribute, commemoration, or district-facing statement. It mentions members such as Michael Thompson. Extensions of Remarks are statements submitted for the official record, even if they were not spoken live on the floor.
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March 27, 2026
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Extensions of Remarks
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Download official Extensions PDFReturn to issue contextHON. MIKE THOMPSON
of california
in the house of representatives
Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Steve Sando, a local agricultural leader, on the 25th anniversary of his company, Rancho Gordo.
Mr. Sando began his journey in the San Francisco Bay Area. He attended Tamalpais High School and later continued his education at the College of Marin and at San Francisco State University. As a California native born in Los Angeles, Mr. Sando had always been interested in California agriculture, especially beans. He started his own home garden 26 years ago, where he discovered and cultivated a treasure trove of heirloom beans, leading to the foundation of Rancho Gordo.
Steve Sando founded Rancho Gordo in 2001 in the Napa Valley. Recognizing the culinary potential of his heirloom bean varietals, Mr. Sando set out to share these “superstar” beans with the world. Today, Rancho Gordo grows more than 25 varieties on the West Coast and partners with small-scale indigenous farmers in Mexico to bring rare, traditional beans to the U.S. Mr. Sando's work has caught the attention of renowned chefs and home cooks eager to elevate their meals with quality ingredients. Rancho Gordo's products, which include beans, corn, chiles, and other staples, have become key components in New American cuisine. Rancho Gordo sells about 2.5 million pounds of beans a year and supports 38 permanent full-time employees in our community. Mr. Sando's efforts at the forefront of the seed-saving revolution have been widely recognized. Saveur named Rancho Gordo number two on its “Saveur 100” list in 2008, Bon Appetit included Steve in its “Hot 10” for 2009, and Food & Wine praised him as a leader in the seed- saving movement. His most recent cookbook, The Bean Book, is a New York Times Bestseller.
Mr. Sando has also done incredible work for our community by supporting small farmers both locally and in Mexico, preserving heirloom crop varieties. He also actively contributes to nonprofit fundraising efforts for organizations including Ag for Youth in Napa, as well as elementary schools across the country. Mr. Sando serves as the founder of the Rancho Gordo Foundation, a new nonprofit focused on agriculture and youth.
Mr. Sando shares this honor with his two sons, Robert and Nicholas. He remains dedicated to his mission: preserving the agricultural heritage of the Americas and sharing its incredible flavors with the world.
Mr. Speaker, we thank Steve Sando for his dedicated service to our community as we celebrate Rancho Gordo's 25th anniversary. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor him here today.