HLS 16RS-1283 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 3
BY REPRESENTATIVES SCHEXNAYDER AND PRI CE
COMMENDATIONS: Recognizes St. James Parish as the Perique Tobacco Capital of the
World
1 A RESOLUTION
2To recognize St. James Parish as the Perique Tobacco Capital of the World.
3 WHEREAS, St. James Parish is one of Louisiana's nineteen original parishes created
4on March 31, 1807, by an act of the territorial legislature; and
5 WHEREAS, St. James Parish is part of the Mississippi River Acadian Coast, which
6was settled by Acadians in 1776; and
7 WHEREAS, St. James Parish is often called the Gem of the Mississippi River, and
8its people pride themselves on their unique culture and heritage; and
9 WHEREAS, St. James Parish is the only cultivation site in the world for Perique
10tobacco, a rare leaf type on which a special pressure-fermentation process is used; it was
11introduced in 1824 by Acadian exile and farmer Pierre Chenet, nicknamed "Perique"; and
12 WHEREAS, Coralie Decareau, the granddaughter of "Perique" Chenet, and Celestin
13Poche wed in 1829 and planted the generational seeds that grew into a rich family tradition
14of cultivating and processing Perique tobacco to this day; and
15 WHEREAS, often considered the truffle of pipe tobaccos, Perique tobacco is used
16as an ingredient in nearly a hundred different brand-name pipe tobaccos around the world;
17it is coveted for its strong, powerful, sweet, and fruity aroma, and St. James Parish is the
18world's sole source of Perique tobacco; and
19 WHEREAS, the wonderful properties of Perique tobacco allow for a variety of uses,
20including in cigarettes, cigars, and a French liquor; and
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HR NO. 3
1 WHEREAS, while most Louisiana Perique tobacco is cultivated by the Poche,
2Martin, LeBlanc, Roussel, and Gravois farming families in or near Grand Pointe, Louisiana,
3fewer than fifty acres of this crop remain in cultivation; this special tobacco's unique roots
4in this robust and fertile ground make St. James Parish worthy of recognition as the Perique
5Tobacco Capital of the World.
6 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
7Legislature of Louisiana does hereby recognize St. James Parish as the Perique Tobacco
8Capital of the World and does hereby accord the farmers of this exclusive crop and its
9related industries in St. James Parish the honor and esteem they are due.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
11to St. James Parish President Timmy Roussel and the St. James Parish Council.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 3 Original 2016 Regular Session Schexnayder
Recognizes St. James Parish as the Perique Tobacco Capital of the World.
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