Reps. Hansen, Accavitti, Anderson, Bieda, Brown, Byrnes, Caswell, Condino, Elsenheimer, Farhat, Farrah, Garfield, Gleason, Gosselin, Hopgood, Huizenga, Jones, Kolb, LaJoy, Kathleen Law, Lemmons, III, Lemmons, Jr., Mayes, Mortimer, Murphy, Newell, Nitz, Palsrok, Pavlov, Phillips, Polidori, Proos, Sak, Schuitmaker, Sheltrown, Virgil Smith, Stewart, Taub, Tobocman, Vagnozzi, Waters, Wojno and Zelenko offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 10.

A resolution to commemorate February 2005 as National Cherry Month in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, It is most appropriate to commemorate February 2005 as National Cherry Month.  The Cherry Marketing Institute (CMI) was formed in 1988 and is funded by U.S. tart cherry growers.  The goal of the CMI is to increase the use of cherries through promotion, market expansion, product development and research; and

Whereas, Michigan, known for its world-record tart cherry harvest, also hosts the world's largest cherry celebration, the National Cherry Festival.  It takes place each July in Traverse City, Michigan; and

Whereas, The United States produces about 650 million pounds of sweet and tart cherries each year.  Michigan produces the largest tart cherry crop. An average of 200 to 250 million pounds of tart cherries are harvested each year or 70 to 75 percent of the crop; and

Whereas, Consumers are eager to buy cherry products in February to help celebrate a variety of special days during the month, including Valentine's Day and Paczki Day (Fat Tuesday); and

Whereas, Cherries contain powerful antioxidants that may help fight cancer and heart disease and relieve the pain associated with arthritis, according to research at Michigan State University; and

Whereas, Children are told the tale of young George Washington and how he could not lie to his father about chopping down a cherry tree.  Cherries have become a symbol of his birthday.  Americans continue to celebrate Presidents’ Day on February 21st and Washington’s Birthday on February 22nd by eating cherry pie; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body commemorate February 2005 as National Cherry Month in the state of Michigan; and be it further

Resolved, That we also commemorate the members of the Cherry Marketing Institute and the many growers and processors.  We commend them on their valuable contributions and the central role they play in producing and promoting such an important agricultural commodity; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the members of CMI as an expression of our respect and esteem.