TITLE: Recognizing October 2017 as Texas Pecan Month.

SUMMARY: Recognizing October 2017 as Texas Pecan Month.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The pecan enjoys an iconic status among Texans, beloved for its delicious taste as well as its importance to the state's economy; and WHEREAS, Dating to prehistoric times, the pecan tree grows naturally in most of the state's river valleys; native to 152 of the 254 counties, it is grown commercially in an even wider area, and many Texas residents delight in harvesting the pecans in their yards; and WHEREAS, One of the healthiest nuts, the pecan is cholesterol-and gluten-free and high in antioxidants, and it contains 19 vitamins and minerals; it is also a natural source of high-quality protein and dietary fiber; and WHEREAS, The pecan has long been a profitable crop for Texas farmers, and it is the only commercially grown nut in the state; as early as the 1850s, the Port of Galveston alone was exporting thousands of bushels each year, and by 1910, Texas produced nearly six million pounds of pecans annually; in the past century, the state has become one of the leading commercial producers of pecans in the nation; in 2014, it produced 61 million pounds, which contributed nearly $108 million to the Texas economy; and WHEREAS, Beyond its financial value, the pecan is prized for its rich flavor and for the diverse roles it plays in the culinary world, enriching everything from salads to side dishes to desserts; the reverence that Texans have for the nut is reflected in the official honors it has received through the years; in 1919, the 36th Texas Legislature declared the pecan tree the state tree, in 1995, the 74th Legislature proclaimed pecan pie as the state pie, and in 2001, the 77th Legislature designated the pecan as the state's official health nut; and WHEREAS, Texas is one of few places where pecans are harvested in October, making that month a fitting time to pay tribute to the contributions of the pecan industry and to honor the special affection that residents of the Lone Star State have for this distinctly Texan delicacy; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby recognize October 2017 as Texas Pecan Month. Longoria Straus Goldman Oliverson Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega Alonzo Gonz lez of El Paso Paddie Alvarado Gooden Parker Anchia Guerra Paul Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan Ar valo Hefner Phillips Ashby Hernandez Pickett Bailes Herrero Price Bell Hinojosa Raney Bernal Holland Raymond Biedermann Howard Reynolds Blanco Huberty Rinaldi Bohac Hunter Roberts Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burns Johnson of Harris Rose Burrows Kacal Sanford Button Keough Schaefer Cain King of Hemphill Schofield Canales King of Parker Schubert Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen Clardy Klick Sheffield Coleman Koop Shine Collier Krause Simmons Cook Kuempel Smithee Cortez Lambert Springer Cosper Landgraf Stephenson Craddick Lang Stickland Cyrier Larson Stucky Dale Laubenberg Swanson Darby Leach Thierry Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris Dean Lucio III Tinderholt Deshotel Martinez Turner Dukes Metcalf Uresti Dutton Meyer VanDeaver Elkins Miller Villalba Faircloth Minjarez Vo Fallon Moody Walle Farrar Morrison White Flynn Mu oz, Jr. Wilson Frank Murphy Workman Frullo Murr Wray Geren Neave Wu Gervin-Hawkins Nev rez Zedler Giddings Oliveira Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 371 was adopted by the House on August 11, 2017, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House