SLS 16RS-3989 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 188
BY SENATOR MIZELL
AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES. Requests the Department of Agriculture and Forestry
to develop and adopt an official logo for watermelons produced in Washington Parish.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To urge and request the Department of Agriculture and Forestry to develop and adopt an
3 official logo for watermelons produced in Washington Parish.
4 WHEREAS, Washington Parish watermelons are well known throughout the state
5 of Louisiana for their superior quality, flavor, and sweetness; and
6 WHEREAS, Washington Parish watermelons provide a wide range of economic
7 benefits to the Southeast Louisiana region and are an integral part of the agricultural history
8 of Washington Parish; and
9 WHEREAS, counterfeit watermelons are being sold in many areas of the state and
10 are fraudulently misrepresented as Washington Parish watermelons; and
11 WHEREAS, the sale of fraudulent watermelons has negatively impacted Washington
12 Parish watermelon farmers by increasing the market supply and reducing the price of their
13 watermelons; and
14 WHEREAS, the sale of fraudulent watermelons also makes it harder for Washington
15 Parish watermelon farmers to market their product and promotes unfair competition between
16 genuine and fraudulent products; and
17 WHEREAS, Louisiana consumers expect and deserve a superior product when
18 purchasing a Washington Parish watermelon; and
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SLS 16RS-3989 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, the sale of fraudulent watermelons unfairly misrepresents the quality
2 and integrity of Washington Parish watermelons; and
3 WHEREAS, deceptive or misleading labeling of agricultural products falls under the
4 jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry; and
5 WHEREAS, R.S. 3:4721 authorizes the Department of Agriculture and Forestry to
6 adopt official logos for Louisiana products which may be trademarked and protected from
7 misuse or infringement; and
8 WHEREAS, R.S. 3:4721 further authorizes the Department of Agriculture and
9 Forestry to license the use of a logo and adopt rules for determining which products and
10 producers will be allowed to use the logo; and
11 WHEREAS, adopting an official logo for Washington Parish watermelons will
12 benefit Louisiana consumers and Washington Parish farmers by ensuring a genuine product
13 and verifying the authenticity of the watermelons; and
14 WHEREAS, it is appropriate for the Department of Agriculture and Forestry to
15 develop and adopt an official logo for watermelons produced in Washington Parish in order
16 to protect the economic interests of Washington Parish watermelon farmers and preserve the
17 integrity of their superior product.
18 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
19 does hereby urge and request the Department of Agriculture and Forestry to develop and
20 adopt an official logo for watermelons produced in Washington Parish.
21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
22 commissioner of agriculture and forestry.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Curry Lann.
DIGEST
SR 188 Original 2016 Regular Session Mizell
Requests the Department of Agriculture and Forestry to develop and adopt an official logo
for watermelons produced in Washington Parish.
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