Expressing support for the 88th Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Florida, its cultural significance to the State of Florida, and the contributions of Plant City's strawberry industry to American agriculture.

Subjects: Agriculture and Food

Summary:  <p>This resolution expresses support for the 88th Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Florida, and the contributions of Plant City's strawberry industry to Florida's agriculture.</p>

<html><body><pre>[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 206 Introduced in House (IH)]

&lt;DOC&gt;






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 206

 Expressing support for the 88th Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant 
 City, Florida, its cultural significance to the State of Florida, and 
   the contributions of Plant City's strawberry industry to American 
                              agriculture.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 8, 2023

Ms. Lee of Florida (for herself, Mr. Bilirakis, Ms. Castor of Florida, 
     and Mr. C. Scott Franklin of Florida) submitted the following 
     resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing support for the 88th Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant 
 City, Florida, its cultural significance to the State of Florida, and 
   the contributions of Plant City's strawberry industry to American 
                              agriculture.

Whereas the Florida Strawberry Festival was first organized and held in 1930 by 
        the Plant City Lions Club;
Whereas, in 1948, the American Legion Post #26 helped get the Festival 
        reactivated following a 6-year hiatus during and immediately following 
        World War II;
Whereas the Festival brings people together to celebrate Plant City's strawberry 
        harvest through 11 days of activities, entertainment, and strawberry-
        centric foods;
Whereas, today, the Festival is put together by a community-oriented 
        organization whose board of directors, staff, and volunteers devote 
        countless hours to planning for and accommodating tens of thousands of 
        people each day of the Festival;
Whereas more than 540,000 people attended the 2022 Florida Strawberry Festival;
Whereas the Strawberry Ball, hosted by the Florida Strawberry Festival, raised 
        $50,000 for Plant City's local food bank in 2022;
Whereas more than 75 percent of United States midwinter strawberries come from 
        Plant City, Florida;
Whereas approximately 200,000 strawberry shortcakes, the Festival's signature 
        dessert, are served each year at the Florida Strawberry Festival;
Whereas more than 10,000 acres of strawberries are planted annually in the local 
        area, and its 2,800 farms make Hillsborough County a national leader in 
        producing strawberries, citrus, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, squash, 
        okra, peppers, beans, dairy products, eggs, ornamental horticulture, 
        tropical fish, beef cattle, swine, and other related products; and
Whereas the annual value of Hillsborough County's farms total $360,000,000: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the contributions of Plant City's strawberry 
        industry to Florida's agriculture;
            (2) applauds the unique cultural significance of the annual 
        Florida Strawberry Festival to the people of Plant City, 
        Hillsborough County, and the State of Florida; and
            (3) celebrates the 88th Florida Strawberry Festival and 
        supports its related youth development programs, entertainment, 
        and parades that bring the Plant City community together and 
        share it with visitors from around the world.
                                 &lt;all&gt;
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