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HCR 6: Proclaiming July 2015 to be Alaska Peony Month.

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.