H.C.R. No. 16 



HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	WHEREAS, The State of Texas has customarily recognized a 
variety of official state symbols as tangible representations of 
the state's historical and cultural heritage; and
	WHEREAS, Like the square dance, the guitar, and the rodeo, 
tortilla chips and salsa are deeply rooted in Texas tradition and 
enjoy popularity throughout the length and breadth of the state; 
stocked in countless kitchens, they are brought out for solitary 
refreshment and for social gatherings of virtually every 
description and level of formality; and
	WHEREAS, The primary ingredients of chips and salsa have 
nourished the people of this land for centuries; corn, peppers, and 
tomatoes all originated in the Western Hemisphere and were being 
cultivated by Native Americans along the Rio Grande when the 
Spaniards, who introduced onions to the New World, arrived in 
Texas; tortillas, developed in prehistoric times by the Indians of 
Latin America, have likewise long been a staple in parts of the 
state; and
	WHEREAS, In addition to their traditional importance as a 
foodstuff, peppers, onions, and tomatoes have played a significant 
role in Texas folk medicine, and their value in fighting illness is 
being increasingly recognized by modern science; and
	WHEREAS, Together with corn, these three plants also play a 
notable economic role in the state; in recent years, onions have 
ranked as the number one cash truck crop in Texas, while corn has 
accounted for about five percent of the state's agricultural 
economy; nationwide in 2000, Texas ranked 1st in the production of 
jalapeño peppers, 4th in the production of onions, and 16th in the 
production of tomatoes, while a 2002 report ranks the state 10th in 
the production of corn; and
	WHEREAS, The importance of these crops in Texas is reflected 
by such celebrations as the annual Corn Festival in Holland, Hot 
Pepper Festival in Palestine, and Tomato Festival in Jacksonville, 
as well as onion festivals in Noonday, Presidio, and Weslaco; salsa 
itself enjoys a starring role at the Three Rivers Salsa Festival and 
at other hotly contested competitions in Houston and Austin; and
	WHEREAS, Spectacular sales figures underscore what Texans 
already know:  that tortilla chips and salsa enjoy popularity 
ratings in the stratosphere; moreover, Texas chip and salsa plants 
now command a major share of their respective national markets; 
joining the state's oldest and largest salsa manufacturer, which 
began production in San Antonio in 1947, smaller new salsa firms 
continue to spring up, often inspired by a cherished family recipe 
and encouraged by Texans' insatiable demand for this zesty 
concoction; and
	WHEREAS, Folk foods that have become commercial giants, chips 
and salsa stand out among Texas snacks because of their historic 
origins and universal appeal; embraced today by Texans of every 
ethnic background, they constitute a much-savored part of our 
shared cultural identity; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the 78th Legislature of the State of Texas 
hereby designate tortilla chips and salsa as the official State 
Snack of Texas.

                                                                          Flores




______________________________              ______________________________
 
   President of the Senate                               Speaker of the House      

	I certify that H.C.R. No. 16 was adopted by the House on March 
28, 2003, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House   

	I certify that H.C.R. No. 16 was adopted by the Senate on May 
22, 2003, by a viva-voce vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                      Secretary of the Senate   



APPROVED: __________________                                                
 
                Date                                                         




 
         __________________                                              
 
              Governor