SLS 24RS-583 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 13
BY SENATOR WHEAT
SPECIAL DAY/WEEK/MONTH. Recognizes Tuesday, April 9, 2024, as Ponchatoula
Strawberry Festival Day at the state capitol.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To designate Tuesday, April 9, 2024, as Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival Day at the state
3 capitol.
4 WHEREAS, the Louisiana strawberry is the official state fruit of Louisiana; and
5 WHEREAS, strawberries comprise about $7,800,000 in total gross farm value in
6 Tangipahoa Parish and over $10,200,000 statewide; and
7 WHEREAS, the fifty-second annual Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival will be held
8 April 12-14, 2024, at Memorial Park in historic and beautiful Ponchatoula; and
9 WHEREAS, the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival was organized in 1971, and the
10 first festival was held in April of 1972; and
11 WHEREAS, the first Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival was co-sponsored by the
12 Ponchatoula Jaycees and the Ponchatoula Chamber of Commerce, both of which provided
13 three members to serve on the festival board; and
14 WHEREAS, the intent of this committee was to host a festival that not only provided
15 an opportunity for local charitable organizations to raise money for their clubs, but also to
16 honor all of the hardworking local strawberry farmers and to promote their industry; and
17 WHEREAS, the committee and many interested volunteers worked diligently for
18 months planning the first festival; and
Page 1 of 2 SCR NO. 13
SLS 24RS-583 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, for over fifty years, the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival has provided
2 a venue for fundraising by nonprofit and charitable organizations; and
3 WHEREAS, the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival attracts both young and old to its
4 annual celebration of Ponchatoula's legendary delicacy, and food booths feature popular
5 choices like strawberry shortcakes and deep-fried strawberries; and
6 WHEREAS, the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival celebrates its unique status as one
7 of the only festivals at which nonprofit organizations are the only vendors on the official
8 festival grounds.
9 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
10 designate Tuesday, April 9, 2024, as Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival Day in the state of
11 Louisiana and does hereby recognize the wonderful activities of this exceptional festival.
12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
13 chairman of the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Kathy Liberty.
DIGEST
SCR 13 Original 2024 Regular Session Wheat
Recognizes Tuesday, April 9, 2024, as Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival Day at the state
capitol.
Page 2 of 2