Bill Text: NJ AJR49 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates October of each year as "Cranberry Harvest Month."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-29 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee [AJR49 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-AJR49-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman DIANNE C. GOVE
District 9 (Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean)
Assemblyman BRIAN E. RUMPF
District 9 (Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Designates October of each year as "Cranberry Harvest Month."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating October of each year as "Cranberry Harvest Month."
Whereas, The American Cranberry is a native North American plant, with the cranberry's nutritional and medicinal value having been well-known to Native Americans for generations prior to European colonization; and
Whereas, Cranberries have been cultivated in New Jersey for commercial purposes since Benjamin Thomas of Burlington County first attempted to domesticate cranberries in 1835; and
Whereas, The development of the Camden and Atlantic Railroad and the West Jersey Railroad helped the cranberry industry flourish in the late 19th century, with these railroads transporting nearly 35,000 bushels of cranberries in 1881 alone; and
Whereas, "Bounce sorters," the process to identify and separate good cranberries from bad was invented in New Jersey, and is currently used by all cranberry farmers throughout the country; and
Whereas, In the 19th century, Elizabeth Lee, one of the first cranberry growers in southern New Jersey, created and began selling "Bog Sweet Cranberry Sauce"; and
Whereas, The cranberry industry in New Jersey peaked by the 1920s, with New Jersey harvesting more than 11,000 acres of cranberry bogs each year; and
Whereas, The cranberry industry survived and flourished through the Great Depression, but was decimated by World War II, with 5,000 acres harvested in 1940 and only 4,000 acres harvested in 1950; and
Whereas, By 1988, New Jersey farmers were harvesting 3,300 acres of cranberries each year, an amount worth nearly $17 million, making the cranberry industry in New Jersey a vital player in the State economy; and
Whereas, Today, cranberry bogs throughout the Pinelands produce the third largest quantity of cranberries in the United States, with more than 3,600 acres of operational cranberry bogs in several counties in central and southern New Jersey; and
Whereas, Cranberries are harvested in the fall, with fresh cranberries usually available from September through December, and are used to make a variety of products sold year round, such as juices, sauces and dried cranberries; and
Whereas, Cranberry bogs are visited by students and tourists each year to learn about the cranberry harvest process and the history of the cranberry industry in New Jersey; and
Whereas, Scientific research has confirmed that cranberries are extremely healthy and packed with antioxidants, promote cardiovascular health, protect against neurodegenerative diseases, and can inhibit the development of certain types of cancer; and
Whereas, Cranberry harvesting is an industry with a rich history in New Jersey and continues to play a vital role in the State's economy; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The month of October of each year is designated "Cranberry Harvest Month" to recognize the rich history of the Cranberry industry in New Jersey and the continued importance of cranberry harvesting to the State's economy.
2. The Governor may annually issue a proclamation recognizing October as "Cranberry Harvest Month" in New Jersey and may call upon public officials and the citizens of this State to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates October of each year as "Cranberry Harvest Month."
Cranberries have been cultivated in New Jersey since 1840. October is the height of the cranberry harvesting season. Cranberry bogs in central and southern New Jersey are visited by students and tourists each year to learn about the cranberry harvesting process, especially during this month. Cranberries are a healthful fruit with scientifically proven benefits in protecting against common illnesses. Cranberry bogs throughout the Pinelands of New Jersey produce the third largest quantity of cranberries in the United States, with more than 3,600 acres of operational cranberry bogs in several counties in central and southern New Jersey.
