ATLANTA (March 5, 2020) | On Monday, the Senate voted to pass Senate Bill 396, sponsored by Sen. Larry Walker (R – Perry). SB 396 would designate the pecan as the official state nut of Georgia.
“Georgia has consistently ranked as one of the top pecan producing states in the nation and I am proud of the passage of this bill, which will create an additional marketing opportunity for our local farmers,” said Sen. Walker, “After Hurricane Michael, our state’s agricultural community experienced several devastating setbacks and pecan farmers accounted for a significant portion of that with the loss of nearly 30,000 acres. While Senate Bill 396 recognizes the rich history of the pecan, as well as its numerous health and culinary uses, I believe it will have a resounding impact on Georgia’s agriculture industry and the ability of our farmers to promote trade and expand economically.”
SB 396 highlights the pecan’s characterization as the only edible nut native to North America and its agricultural popularity throughout the years. Additionally, the bill recognizes Georgia’s over 170,000 acres of pecan trees, and its involvement in increasing public recognition and demand for Georgia Grown branded products. SB 396 has been sent to the House for consideration.
To read SB 396 and track its progress, you can follow this link: http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20192020/SB/396.
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For Immediate Release:
Mar. 3, 2020
Kessarin Horvath, Senior Communications Associate
Kessarin.horvath@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028