A resolution recognizing the importance of the blueberry industry to the United States and designating July 2021 as "National Blueberry Month".

III 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 139 Recognizing the importance of the blueberry industry to the United States and designating July 2021 as ‘‘National Blueberry Month’’. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 25, 2021 Ms. STABENOW (for herself, Mr. WARNOCK, Mr. PETERS, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. MENENDEZ, Ms. COLLINS, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. KING, Mr. MERKLEY, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. WYDEN, and Mr. OSSOFF) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary JULY 21, 2021 Committee discharged; considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Recognizing the importance of the blueberry industry to the United States and designating July 2021 as ‘‘National Blueberry Month’’. Whereas blueberries are a native North American fruit, first managed and harvested as wild blueberries by the native Wabanaki; Whereas wild blueberries continue to be managed and har- vested in Maine by farmers including the Wabanaki, as a native, naturally occurring crop; Whereas the pioneering work conducted in New Jersey in the early 1900s by Elizabeth White and Dr. Frederick VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:15 Jul 21, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR139.ATS SR139 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 SRES 139 ATS Coville, a botanist at the Department of Agriculture, to domesticate wild lowbush blueberries resulted in the de- velopment of the hybrid for cultivated highbush blue- berries; Whereas because of these 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 is an important sector of United States agriculture with an an- nual economic impact of $4,700,000,000; Whereas highbush and wild blueberries have a total harvested area estimated at more than 140,000 acres and are pro- duced in 48 States by nearly 13,185 farms; Whereas blueberry production in the United States has con- tinually increased, with particular growth in the first 2 decades of the 21st century, to reach a harvest of 730,000,000 pounds in 2020; Whereas blueberries are low in fat and a source of fiber, vita- mins, and minerals; Whereas blueberries are being studied to examine the role 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 harvest reach- ing its peak in July: Now, therefore, be it VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:15 Jul 21, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR139.ATS SR139 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 SRES 139 ATS Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) designates July 2021 as ‘‘National Blue- 2 berry Month’’; 3 (2) recognizes the contributions of blueberry 4 growers in the United States and their families; and 5 (3) recognizes that purchasing blueberries 6 grown in the United States supports farmers, jobs, 7 communities, and the economy of the United States. 8 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:15 Jul 21, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR139.ATS SR139 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS