00                   HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 6                                                                    
01 Proclaiming July 2015 to be Alaska Peony Month.                                                                         
02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
03       WHEREAS, in 2001, researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks began to                                    
04 study peony cultivation in the Interior region of the state; and                                                        
05       WHEREAS this state is the only region to harvest peonies during July, August, and                               
06 September; and                                                                                                          
07       WHEREAS peony roots were first planted for commercial production in 2004 with                                   
08 small test plots located in Fairbanks, Kenai, and Homer; and                                                            
09       WHEREAS, in the last 11 years, the state has seen remarkable growth in the peony                                
10 industry, with over 100,000 roots planted by at least 51 commercial growers statewide; and                              
11       WHEREAS, in 2011, nine peony growers successfully marketed 16,000 fresh cut                                     
12 peony stems to florists, flower brokers, farmer's markets, brides, and regional distributors all                        
13 over the contiguous United States; and                                                                                  
14       WHEREAS, in 2012, test shipments went to Taiwan, and several growers combined                                   
15 to make weekly shipments to Hawaii; and                                                                                 
16       WHEREAS, in 2013, 75,264 stems were harvested, and 59,949 of those stems were                                   

01 successfully brought to market; and                                                                                     
02       WHEREAS the projected harvest over the next five years is expected to be over                                   
03 1,000,000 harvestable stems a year, which can be sold for an average price of $3 for each                               
04 stem; and                                                                                                               
05       WHEREAS the production value of a peony farm is $50,000 - $100,000 an acre,                                     
06 assuming that 2,500 - 5,000 plants are grown on each acre, that each plant produces 10 stems,                           
07 and that each stem sells for $2 - $4; and                                                                               
08       WHEREAS the Alaska State Legislature celebrates, through formal commemoration,                                  
09 the accomplishments of the state's peony entrepreneurs and recognizes the peony as a symbol                             
10 of hard work and determination;                                                                                         
11       BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature proclaims July 2015 to be                                      
12 Alaska Peony Month to increase awareness of Alaska's blooming peony industry, to                                        
13 commemorate the achievements of those who work in the state's peony industry, and to afford                             
14 an opportunity for people to recognize the accomplishments of the peony industry with                                   
15 appropriate ceremonies and activities.