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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The pecan enjoys an iconic status among Texans, |
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beloved for its delicious taste as well as its importance to the |
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state's economy; and |
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WHEREAS, Dating to prehistoric times, the pecan tree grows |
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naturally in most of the state's river valleys; native to 152 of the |
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254 counties, it is grown commercially in an even wider area, and |
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many Texas residents delight in harvesting the pecans in their |
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yards; and |
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WHEREAS, One of the healthiest nuts, the pecan is |
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cholesterol- and gluten-free and high in antioxidants, and it |
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contains 19 vitamins and minerals; it is also a natural source of |
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high-quality protein and dietary fiber; and |
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WHEREAS, The pecan has long been a profitable crop for Texas |
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farmers, and it is the only commercially grown nut in the state; as |
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early as the 1850s, the Port of Galveston alone was exporting |
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thousands of bushels each year, and by 1910, Texas produced nearly |
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six million pounds of pecans annually; in the past century, the |
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state has become one of the leading commercial producers of pecans |
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in the nation; in 2014, it produced 61 million pounds, which |
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contributed nearly $108 million to the Texas economy; and |
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WHEREAS, Beyond its financial value, the pecan is prized for |
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its rich flavor and for the diverse roles it plays in the culinary |
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world, enriching everything from salads to side dishes to desserts; |
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the reverence that Texans have for the nut is reflected in the |
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official honors it has received through the years; in 1919, the 36th |
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Texas Legislature declared the pecan tree the state tree, in 1995, |
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the 74th Legislature proclaimed pecan pie as the state pie, and in |
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2001, the 77th Legislature designated the pecan as the state's |
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official health nut; and |
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WHEREAS, Texas is one of few places where pecans are |
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harvested in October, making that month a fitting time to pay |
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tribute to the contributions of the pecan industry and to honor the |
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special affection that residents of the Lone Star State have for |
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this distinctly Texan delicacy; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby recognize October 2017 as |
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Texas Pecan Month. |