ENROLLED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 5
BY REPRESENTATIVE WHEAT
A RESOLUTION
To designate Tuesday, April 11, 2023, as Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival Day at the state
capitol.
WHEREAS, the Louisiana strawberry is the official state fruit of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, for the 2022 production year, the state of Louisiana included forty-seven
strawberry growers on one hundred ninety-nine acres of land; and
WHEREAS, the fifty-first annual Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival will be held
April 14-16, 2023, at Memorial Park in historic and beautiful Ponchatoula; and
WHEREAS, the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival was organized in 1971, and the
first festival was held in April of 1972; and
WHEREAS, the first Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival was co-sponsored by the
Ponchatoula Jaycees and the Ponchatoula Chamber of Commerce, both of which provided
three members to serve on the festival board; and
WHEREAS, the intent of this committee was to host a festival that not only provided
an opportunity for local charitable organizations to raise money for their clubs, but also to
honor all of the hardworking local strawberry farmers and to promote their industry; and
WHEREAS, the committee and many other interested volunteers worked diligently
for months planning the first festival; and
WHEREAS, for over fifty years, the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival has provided
a venue for fundraising by nonprofit and charitable organizations; and
WHEREAS, the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival attracts both young and old to its
annual celebration of Ponchatoula's legendary delicacy, and food booths feature popular
choices like strawberry shortcake and deep-fried strawberries; and
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WHEREAS, the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival celebrates its unique status as one
of the only festivals at which nonprofit organizations are the only vendors on the official
festival grounds.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby designate Tuesday, April 11, 2023, as Ponchatoula
Strawberry Festival Day in the state of Louisiana and does hereby recognize the wonderful
activities of this exceptional festival.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
chairman of the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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