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.

IV 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 contribu- tions 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 ac- tivities, entertainment, and strawberry-centric foods; VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:28 Mar 09, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR206.IH HR206 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 206 IH 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 ac- commodating tens of thousands of people each day of the Festival; Whereas more than 540,000 people attended the 2022 Flor- ida Strawberry Festival; Whereas the Strawberry Ball, hosted by the Florida Straw- berry 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, orna- mental 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 (1) supports the contributions of Plant City’s 2 strawberry industry to Florida’s agriculture; 3 (2) applauds the unique cultural significance of 4 the annual Florida Strawberry Festival to the people 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:28 Mar 09, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR206.IH HR206 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 206 IH of Plant City, Hillsborough County, and the State of 1 Florida; and 2 (3) celebrates the 88th Florida Strawberry Fes- 3 tival and supports its related youth development pro- 4 grams, entertainment, and parades that bring the 5 Plant City community together and share it with 6 visitors from around the world. 7 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:28 Mar 09, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR206.IH HR206 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS