Title: A resolution recognizing the importance of the blueberry industry to the United States and designating July 2020 as "National Blueberry Month".
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
This resolution (1) designates July 2020 as National Blueberry Month; and (2) recognizes the contributions of blueberry growers in the United States and their families, and that purchasing blueberries grown in the United States supports farmers, jobs, and the economy of the United States.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 656 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 656

  Recognizing the importance of the blueberry industry to the United 
   States and designating July 2020 as ``National Blueberry Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 22, 2020

 Ms. Stabenow (for herself, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Perdue, Mr. 
 King, and Ms. Collins) submitted the following resolution; which was 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the importance of the blueberry industry to the United 
   States and designating July 2020 as ``National Blueberry Month''.

Whereas the blueberry is a fruit native to North America;
Whereas blueberries were first--

    (1) managed and harvested as wild blueberries by the native Wabanaki 
through specialized burning practices that are still used in 2020; and

    (2) used fresh and dried in food and medicines by Native Americans, who 
introduced blueberries to early colonists, which led to new uses and forms 
of blueberries, including frozen, establishing traditions still observed in 
2020;

Whereas the pioneering work conducted in New Jersey in the early 1900s by 
        Elizabeth White and Dr. Frederick Coville, a botanist at the Department 
        of Agriculture, to domesticate wild lowbush blueberries resulted in the 
        development of the hybrid for cultivated highbush blueberries;
Whereas, because of those early efforts, highbush blueberries are large, sweet, 
        juicy berries that can be commercially produced and shipped;
Whereas wild blueberries--

    (1) are small and sweet; and

    (2) are not planted, but still grow and are harvested where they have 
naturally occurred for thousands of years;

Whereas the blueberry industry in the United States, including both highbush and 
        wild blueberries, is an important agricultural industry with an annual 
        economic impact of $4,700,000,000;
Whereas highbush and wild blueberries--

    (1) have a total harvested area estimated at more than 140,000 acres; 
and

    (2) are produced in 48 States by more than 15,000 growers and their 
families;

Whereas highbush and wild blueberry production in the United States has 
        continually increased, with particular growth during the first 2 decades 
        of the 21st century, reaching a total harvest of 700,000,000 pounds in 
        2019;
Whereas blueberries are--

    (1) low in fat; and

    (2) a source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals;

Whereas blueberries are being studied to examine the role that the berries may 
        play in promoting good health in areas such as cardiovascular health, 
        brain health, exercise, insulin response, and gut health; and
Whereas blueberries are harvested in the United States from March through early 
        September, with the peak of the harvest occurring in July: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates July 2020 as ``National Blueberry Month'';
            (2) recognizes the contributions of blueberry growers in 
        the United States and their families; and
            (3) recognizes that purchasing blueberries grown in the 
        United States supports farmers, jobs, and the economy of the 
        United States.
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