BILL NUMBER: ACR 164INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Patterson (Principal coauthor: Senator Vidak) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Bigelow, Gray, Lackey, Linder, Mathis, Olsen, Wagner, and Waldron) (Coauthors: Senators Anderson, Bates, Cannella, Huff, and Stone) APRIL 4, 2016 Relative to Citrus Strong Month. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST ACR 164, as introduced, Patterson. Citrus Strong Month. This measure would recognize the month of April 2016 as Citrus Strong Month for the purpose of celebrating California's vibrant citrus industry and the benefits it provides to the state's environment, economy, and people, and to affirm that California is citrus strong. Fiscal committee: no. WHEREAS, Citrus is an iconic symbol of California's heritage, dating back to the 1840s; and WHEREAS, California leads the nation in the production of fresh citrus fruit; and WHEREAS, Eighty percent of the nation's supply of fresh citrus is grown in California; and WHEREAS, Ongoing research shows the many health benefits of consuming fresh citrus; and WHEREAS, California citrus is a $3 billion dollar industry that supports over 20,000 jobs and fuels over $1.5 billion in economic activity for the state each year; and WHEREAS, Citrus growers are committed to preserving California's precious natural resources by adopting farming practices that conserve water, reduce air pollution, and promote healthy soils; and WHEREAS, California's citrus growers give back to local communities and families in need; and WHEREAS, In 2015, California's citrus growers donated 19 million pounds of citrus to the Farm to Family program, which is dedicated to delivering food to individuals, families, and children in need and to strengthening communities by providing food security; and WHEREAS, The first annual Citrus Stride will take place at the State Capitol Building on April 6, 2016, and for every registered participant, the citrus industry will donate 1,000 pounds of citrus to the Farm to Family program; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the month of April 2016 as Citrus Strong Month for the purpose of celebrating California's vibrant citrus industry and the benefits it provides to the state's environment, economy, and people, and to affirm that California is citrus strong; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.