Reps. Farhat, Palsrok, Hildenbrand, Robertson, Marleau, Emmons, Palmer, Gosselin, Pavlov, Proos, Nitz, Booher, Hansen, Jones, Steil, Baxter, Huizenga, Acciavatti, Miller, Gleason, Newell, Gaffney, Hune, Polidori, Brown, Hood, Farrah, Murphy, Casperson, Pearce, Kahn, Shaffer, Walker, Clemente, Hummel, Pastor, Brandenburg, Amos, Moolenaar, Ball, Mortimer, Schuitmaker, Ward, Bennett, Bieda, Nofs, Vander Veen, Meyer, Kolb, Adamini, Plakas, Accavitti and Meisner offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 234.

A resolution proclaiming September 14, 2006, as Buy Fresh, Buy Local, Select Michigan Day.

Whereas, Michigan’s fertile soils, moderate climate, abundance of water, and innovative production technologies help our farmers grow over 125 raw commodities that are sold locally, nationally, and in markets around the world; and

Whereas, Through value-added processing, Michigan’s agricultural sector can increase the diversity of products tenfold by producing such things as maple candy, dried cherries, hand-crafted cheeses, soy-based products and clean fuel using corn as a source; and

Whereas, Michigan’s food industry leads the nation in the production of nine major crops and ranks fifth or higher in 28 crops; and

Whereas, In Michigan, agriculture is second only to the automotive industry in terms of economic contribution adding over $37 billion to our state economy each year; and

Whereas, When asked, Michigan residents prefer to purchase goods that are grown here in Michigan. By selecting Michigan grown and processed products, residents are helping to preserve our agricultural heritage; and

Whereas, Michigan’s beautiful landscapes and bountiful harvests bring millions in tourism dollars to this state every year, and as such, a special day sponsored by Michigan Integrated Food & Farming Systems and the Michigan Department of Agriculture will be set aside in September to celebrate the diversity of Michigan’s agriculture; now therefore be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That members of this legislative body proclaim September 14, 2006, as Buy Fresh, Buy Local, Select Michigan Day, and encourage all citizens to “Buy Fresh and Buy Local” to support and preserve Michigan’s agricultural heritage.