R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The citizens of Hidalgo County have selected March

 1-2     13, 1997, as Grapefruit Day at the State Capitol, and this provides

 1-3     a fitting opportunity to pay tribute to one of our state's most

 1-4     significant commercial crops; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, Thanks to an ideal combination of environmental

 1-6     factors, the Lower Rio Grande Valley has become a world-renowned

 1-7     locale for citrus production, and the Texas Red Grapefruit embodies

 1-8     the perfection that can be achieved in these exceptional growing

 1-9     conditions; the region's rich soil and uniformly warm growing

1-10     season produce the remarkably sweet taste and deep red color that

1-11     characterize Texas grapefruit, while the moist Gulf breezes ensure

1-12     a thin, smooth peel on the fruit; and

1-13           WHEREAS, Since the development of the Ruby Red grapefruit in

1-14     1929, growers have continually improved and refined their

1-15     agricultural processes to produce today's superior Texas Rio Star

1-16     and Ruby-Sweet varieties, and fruit connoisseurs across the country

1-17     eagerly anticipate the fruit's availability from October through

1-18     May of each year; and

1-19           WHEREAS, Thanks to the efforts of groups such as the Texas

1-20     Produce Association, the Valley's citrus fruits have become

1-21     mainstays of Texas' booming agricultural economy, and today, the

1-22     grapefruit generates more revenue than any other tree fruit

1-23     produced within our borders; and

1-24           WHEREAS, In recognition of its many attributes and its

 2-1     contributions to the Lone Star economy, the Texas Red Grapefruit

 2-2     has been designated as the official state fruit of Texas, and it is

 2-3     indeed appropriate at this time to pay tribute to this outstanding

 2-4     agricultural resource, as well as to the men and women who have

 2-5     worked to ensure its success in the marketplace; now, therefore, be

 2-6     it

 2-7           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

 2-8     Legislature hereby welcome the visiting delegation from the Texas

 2-9     Produce Association and commend them for their efforts to promote

2-10     the Texas Red Grapefruit at home and abroad; and, be it further

2-11           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-12     prepared for the Texas Produce Association as an expression of high

2-13     regard by the Texas House of Representatives.

                                                                        Wise

         Laney                   Gutierrez                Oliveira

         Alexander               Haggerty                 Olivo

         Allen                   Hamric                   Palmer

         Alvarado                Hartnett                 Patterson

         Averitt                 Hawley                   Pickett

         Bailey                  Heflin                   Pitts

         Berlanga                Hernandez                Place

         Bonnen                  Hightower                Price

         Bosse                   Hilbert                  Puente

         Brimer                  Hilderbran               Rabuck

         Burnam                  Hill                     Ramsay

         Carter                  Hinojosa                 Rangel

         Chavez                  Hirschi                  Raymond

         Chisum                  Hochberg                 Reyna of Bexar

         Christian               Hodge                    Reyna of Dallas

         Clark                   Holzheauser              Rhodes

         Coleman                 Horn                     Rodriguez

         Cook                    Howard                   Roman

         Corte                   Hunter                   Sadler

         Counts                  Hupp                     Seaman

         Crabb                   Isett                    Serna

         Craddick                Jackson                  Shields

         Cuellar                 Janek                    Siebert

         Culberson               Jones of Lubbock         Smith

         Danburg                 Jones of Dallas          Smithee

         Davila                  Junell                   Solis

         Davis                   Kamel                    Solomons

         Delisi                  Keel                     Staples

         Denny                   Keffer                   Stiles

         Driver                  King                     Swinford

         Dukes                   Krusee                   Talton

         Dunnam                  Kubiak                   Telford

         Dutton                  Kuempel                  Thompson

         Edwards                 Lewis of Tarrant         Tillery

         Ehrhardt                Lewis of Orange          Torres

         Eiland                  Longoria                 Turner of Coleman

         Elkins                  Luna                     Turner of Harris

         Farrar                  McCall                   Uher

         Finnell                 McClendon                Van de Putte

         Flores                  McReynolds               Walker

         Gallego                 Madden                   West

         Galloway                Marchant                 Williams

         Garcia                  Maxey                    Williamson

         Giddings                Merritt                  Wilson

         Glaze                   Moffat                   Wise

         Goodman                 Moreno                   Wohlgemuth

         Goolsby                 Mowery                   Wolens

         Gray                    Naishtat                 Woolley

         Greenberg               Nixon                    Yarbrough

         Grusendorf              Oakley                   Zbranek

                                             _______________________________

                                                   Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.R. No. 304 was adopted by the House on March

         13, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House