1Designating the month of October 2013 as "Wine, Wineries and
2Grapes Month" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Pennsylvania growers produce many of the finest food
4products available worldwide; and

5WHEREAS, Today, the growth of Pennsylvania grapes occurs
6thanks to the tireless efforts of generations of Pennsylvanians
7who played instrumental roles in the founding of this nation's
8great wine industry; and

9WHEREAS, The United States' first commercial grapevine
10nursery operated in Montgomery County in southeastern
11Pennsylvania; and

12WHEREAS, With approximately 14,000 acres of grapes, this
13Commonwealth ranks fourth nationally in the amount of grapes
14grown, including the use of grapes for the production of juices;

1and

2WHEREAS, Pennsylvania ranks fifth nationally in the amount of
3wine grapes produced and seventh in the production of wine; and

4WHEREAS, Pennsylvania grape growers produce the finest table,
5jelly and juice grapes, including such diverse varieties as the
6Catawba, the Concord, the Delaware and the Niagara; and

7WHEREAS, The largest Concord-producing plant in the country
8operates in this Commonwealth; and

9WHEREAS, In just under 30 years, the licensed wineries in
10this Commonwealth have increased from 27 to 123, and
11Pennsylvania is home to an additional 150 wine grape growers;
12and

13WHEREAS, According to the Pennsylvania Wine Marketing and
14Research Program study, production of wine and wine grapes
15contributes a total of $2.35 billion to the State's economy,
16which includes the direct creation of 10,537 jobs and a total
17direct payroll of $472 million; and

18WHEREAS, Wineries attract 894,000 visitors and bring about an
19estimated $179.6 million in tourism expenditures annually; and

20WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board,
21Pennsylvania's wine industry and other State agencies have
22promoted this Commonwealth as a "wine-friendly" State; and

23WHEREAS, October serves as an important month of harvest for
24Pennsylvania grape growers, and harvest time provides an ideal
25opportunity to recognize the contributions of grape growers and
26the entire wine industry to this Commonwealth and to the nation;
27therefore be it

28RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
29significant and invaluable contributions made by the grape
30industry and the wine industry to this Commonwealth's history,

1economy and quality of life; and be it further

2RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
3month of October 2013 as "Wine, Wineries and Grapes Month" in
4Pennsylvania; and be it further

5RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage the
6citizens of this Commonwealth to celebrate "Wine, Wineries and
7Grapes Month" by enjoying many of the grape products of
8Pennsylvania growers and responsibly partaking of favorite
9Pennsylvania wine products while engaging in the festivities and
10gaining awareness of the services and products offered by
11Pennsylvania wineries through all seasons of the year.