PRINTER'S NO. 2628

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No. 303 Session of 1997

        INTRODUCED BY CALTAGIRONE, SANTONI, DeWEESE, SEMMEL, READSHAW,
           LAUGHLIN, MANDERINO, BROWN, TIGUE, ALLEN, ARGALL, ITKIN,
           ROHRER, PESCI, YOUNGBLOOD, SERAFINI, CAPPABIANCA, BARRAR,
           M. N. WRIGHT, BEBKO-JONES, KAISER, JAROLIN, JOSEPHS,
           GODSHALL, FICHTER, SHANER, WOJNAROSKI, HERSHEY, LEDERER,
           RUBLEY, OLASZ, PETRONE, BOSCOLA, COLAIZZO, COY, GEORGE,
           DeLUCA, GEIST, PETRARCA, WALKO, MILLER, MAJOR, L. I. COHEN,
           ROSS, SCHRODER, PIPPY, HERMAN, MYERS, SCRIMENTI, HENNESSEY,
           E. Z. TAYLOR, RAMOS, KELLER, McNAUGHTON, BAKER, TRELLO,
           BELARDI, M. COHEN, SCHULER, LEH, CURRY, GIGLIOTTI AND HORSEY,
           NOVEMBER 25, 1997

        INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
           NOVEMBER 25, 1997

                                  A RESOLUTION

     1  Recognizing the contributions of the mushroom industry in this
     2     Commonwealth and calling upon the people of this Commonwealth
     3     to support the Pennsylvania mushroom industry.

     4     WHEREAS, This Commonwealth leads all states in mushroom
     5  production; and
     6     WHEREAS, During the 1995-1996 production year, Pennsylvania
     7  growers supplied 45% of all Agaricus mushrooms grown in the
     8  United States; and
     9     WHEREAS, Mushrooms represent the largest cash crop in this
    10  Commonwealth; and
    11     WHEREAS, Commonwealth mushroom growers generated total
    12  revenues of $274 million in 1995, $144 million of which was
    13  generated by Chester County mushroom growers; and

     1     WHEREAS, The mushroom industry provides a number of
     2  environmental benefits to this Commonwealth, with growers using
     3  400,000 tons or more of agricultural by-products; and
     4     WHEREAS, The composting process converts these by-products
     5  into a medium suitable for annually producing approximately 360
     6  million pounds of mushrooms, and, upon completion of the crop,
     7  these by-products have been reduced 62% from their original
     8  volume and are an excellent organic slow-release nutrient and
     9  soil ameliorant; therefore be it
    10     RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
    11  economic and environmental contributions made by the mushroom
    12  industry in this Commonwealth and call upon the people of this
    13  Commonwealth to support the Pennsylvania mushroom industry.












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