IV 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 458 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 19, 2009 Mr. Fortenberry (for himself and Mr. Kagen) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal Government should encourage organic farming, gardening, local food production, and farmers’ markets.

Whereas, according to a recent National Gardening Association survey, 43,000,000 Americans plan to grow their own fruits, vegetables, herbs, or berries in 2009, a 19-percent increase from 2008; Whereas $2,500,000,000 was spent by Americans on food gardening in 2008; Whereas backyard and community gardens provide millions of Americans of all ages with exercise and cost-effective, healthy food options; Whereas the United States has a rich history of promoting homegrown food; Whereas it is estimated that by the end of World War II, more than 20,000,000 gardens were providing 40 percent of the produce consumed in the United States; Whereas the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service reported that there were 4,685 farmers’ markets in August 2008, a 6.8-percent increase since 2006; Whereas farmers’ markets create an interconnectedness between farmers and families, urban and rural communities, and people and agriculture; Whereas local foods systems, which are strengthened by farmers’ markets, provide nutritional benefits for consumers, income opportunities for small- and medium-size farmers, and support for local economies; Whereas local and organic food production often encourage sustainable farming practices that help protect and conserve our natural resources; Whereas sales of organic food and beverages in the United States have grown from $1,000,000,000 in 1990 to an estimated $22,900,000,000 in 2008; and Whereas organic products now account for about 3.5 percent of all food sales in the United States: Now, therefore, be it

That— (1)the House of Representatives recognizes the many contributions that organic farming, gardening, local food production, and farmers’ markets make to the Nation’s safe and abundant food supply; and (2)it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal Government should encourage organic farming, gardening, local food production, and farmers’ markets.