1Designating August 2014 as "Pennsylvania Produce Month" in
2Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, This Commonwealth's vegetable industry generates
4more than $153 million in revenue to the economy of this
5Commonwealth; and

6WHEREAS, Three thousand nine hundred and fifty farm families
7manage about 49,400 acres which produce more than 280,000 tons
8of vegetables for fresh and processing use; and

9WHEREAS, This Commonwealth's vegetable growers nationally
10placed fourth in the production of pumpkins, fifth in processing
11snap beans, seventh in fresh market sweet corn, eighth in
12cantaloupes and thirteenth in fresh market tomatoes and cabbage;
13and

14WHEREAS, This Commonwealth's vegetables are both delicious

1and nutritious, providing important vitamins, fiber and other
2dietary components that are essential to a healthy, balanced
3diet; and

4WHEREAS, Health authorities have long encouraged increased
5consumption of vegetables for both nutritional and disease
6prevention purposes; and

7WHEREAS, Fresh Pennsylvania vegetables are available in
8abundant supply and peak quality at community farmers' markets,
9roadside farm markets and supermarkets throughout this
10Commonwealth during the month of August; and

11WHEREAS, This Commonwealth's vegetable industry is committed
12to using integrated pest management and other good agricultural
13practices to produce, in an environmentally sound manner,
14vegetables and vegetable products that are both nutritious and
15safe; therefore be it

16RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate August
172014 as "Pennsylvania Produce Month" in Pennsylvania and
18recognize this Commonwealth's abundant supply of "PA Preferred"
19fresh and processed vegetable products while recognizing the
20industry's contributions to our economy and our health.