MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representative Grist

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE MISSISSIPPI SWEET POTATO COUNCIL.

WHEREAS, the Mississippi Sweet Potato Council is an educational, nonprofit organization of individuals interested in promoting and building the sweet potato industry for Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Mississippi has 150 sweet potato producers, who devote more than 10,500 acres of farmland to sweet potato production; and

WHEREAS, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Humphreys, Pontotoc and Yalobusha Counties are the top five sweet potato producing areas in Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Mississippi ranks third in number of acres planted among sweet potato producing states and contributes $24 million to Mississippi's economy each year; and

WHEREAS, Mississippi hosts the National Sweet Potato Festival each November in Vardaman; and

WHEREAS, in January 2000, Mississippi hosted the 38th Annual United States Sweet Potato Council Meeting at Gold Strike in Tunica, Mississippi, which had the highest attendance of sweet potato growers in the history of the council; and

WHEREAS, Bobby Whitt, President of the Mississippi Sweet Potato Council, has been elected to serve as the National President of the Sweet Potato Council for 1999-2000:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Mississippi Sweet Potato Council and extend our appreciation for their promotion of the sweet potato industry in Mississippi.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Bobby Whitt, President of the Mississippi Sweet Potato Council, and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.