Title: Recognizing the importance of the blueberry industry to the United States and supporting the designation of July 2021 as National Blueberry Month.
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
This resolution (1) supports the designation of National Blueberry Month; and (2) recognizes the contributions of American growers and their families, and that purchasing American grown blueberries supports farmers, jobs, and the economy.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 271 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 271

  Recognizing the importance of the blueberry industry to the United 
    States and supporting the designation of July 2021 as National 
                            Blueberry Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 26, 2021

    Mr. Bishop of Georgia (for himself and Mr. Upton) submitted the 
     following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                              Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the importance of the blueberry industry to the United 
    States and supporting the designation of July 2021 as National 
                            Blueberry Month.

Whereas blueberries are a native North American fruit, first used fresh and 
        dried in food and medicines by Native Americans who introduced them to 
        early colonists, which led to new uses and forms, including frozen, 
        establishing traditions still observed today;
Whereas the pioneering work conducted in New Jersey by Elizabeth White and Dr. 
        Frederick Coville, a Department of Agriculture botanist, in the early 
        1900s, to domesticate wild lowbush blueberries resulted in the 
        development of the hybrid for cultivated highbush blueberries;
Whereas because of these early efforts, highbush blueberries are large, sweet, 
        juicy berries that can be commercially produced and shipped, allowing 
        them to become an important United States agricultural industry;
Whereas highbush blueberries have a harvested area estimated at 102,700 acres 
        and are produced in 48 States by more than 14,000 farms;
Whereas highbush blueberry production in the United States increased, with 
        particular growth in the past two years, to reach a harvest of 
        680,700,000 pounds in 2019;
Whereas blueberries are low in fat, and a source of fiber, vitamins, and 
        minerals;
Whereas blueberries are being studied to examine the role they may play in 
        promoting good health in areas such as cardiovascular health, brain 
        health, exercise, insulin response, and gut health; and
Whereas highbush blueberries are harvested in the United States from April 
        through September, with the harvest reaching its peak in July: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of National Blueberry Month;
            (2) recognizes the contributions of American growers and 
        their families; and
            (3) recognizes that purchasing American grown blueberries 
        supports farmers, jobs, and the economy.
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