Recognizing the importance of the blueberry industry to the United States of America and supporting the designation of July 2020 as "National Blueberry Month".

IV 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. RES. 882 Recognizing the importance of the blueberry industry to the United States of America and supporting the designation of July 2020 as ‘‘National Blueberry Month’’. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 2, 2020 Mr. UPTON (for himself and Mr. BISHOP of Georgia) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture RESOLUTION Recognizing the importance of the blueberry industry to the United States of America and supporting the designation of July 2020 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 domes- ticate wild lowbush blueberries resulted in the develop- ment of the hybrid for cultivated highbush blueberries; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:07 Mar 02, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR882.IH HR882 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 882 IH 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 im- portant United States agricultural industry; Whereas highbush blueberries have a harvested area esti- mated at more than 97,000 acres and are produced in 48 States by more than 14,000 growers and their families; Whereas highbush blueberry production in the United States has continually increased, with particular growth in the past two decades, to reach a harvest of 551,100,000 pounds in 2018; Whereas blueberries are low in fat, and a source of fiber, vi- tamins, 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 re- sponse, and gut health; and Whereas highbush blueberries are harvested in the United States from April through early September, with the har- vest reaching its peak in July: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘National Blue- 2 berry Month’’; 3 (2) recognizes the contributions of American 4 growers and their families; and 5 (3) recognizes that purchasing American grown 6 blueberries supports farmers, jobs, and the economy. 7 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:07 Mar 02, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR882.IH HR882 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS