Senator Jon Tester gifts his homegrown Montana safflower oil to fellow Senators

Senator: ‘Need a little oil to break the gridlock in Washington’

(U.S. Senate) – This holiday season, Senator Jon Tester http://www.tester.senate.gov/ is delivering one of the world’s oldest crops to the world’s "greatest deliberative body."

Tester’s holiday gift this year to his fellow Senators is safflower oil processed from the crop harvested on his Big Sandy farm. Tester – an organic farmer – planted safflower for the first time two decades ago. The crop dates back to ancient Egypt and today is cultivated for vegetable oil.

"The Senate is stuck in gridlock, and it needs a little more oil to get back to work," Tester said. "Safflower oil is a great Made-in-Montana product that comes from small producers, and I’m proud to spread the word about Montana’s high-quality goods this holiday season."

Tester’s safflower was processed locally at a small business in his hometown of Big Sandy. The safflower oil is certified organic by the Montana Department of Agriculture.

Tester delivered one 250ml bottle of safflower oil to each Senate office.