[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 84 (Thursday, May 18, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PASADENA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BRIAN BABIN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 18, 2023

  Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 50th 
anniversary of the Pasadena Strawberry Festival located in Pasadena, 
Texas.
  When the 1900 Galveston hurricane decimated the island, it flooded 
much of Pasadena's cropland. Afterward, Clara Barton--founder of the 
American Red Cross--was rendering aid to residents in the area when she 
realized the surrounding farmers were now in desperate need of a new 
cash crop. Acting swiftly, she arranged to have strawberry plants 
shipped to the city. The plants flourished, and strawberries quickly 
became the town's most popular commodity. Pasadena's strawberries, 
famous for their unique size and sweetness, earned the city the title 
of ``Strawberry Capital of the South.'' Trains carried freight cars 
full of the bright red berries as far north as Chicago.
  By the late 1930s--and the rise of Texas's oil and gas industry--
refineries soon stood in place of the strawberry fields that once drove 
the town's economy. However, the historical impact on the community was 
not forgotten. In 1974, the city held its first Strawberry Festival to 
celebrate the opening of the Pasadena Historical Museum; the festival 
continues to this day.
  Each May, Pasadena citizens gather to remember their town's heritage 
as the Strawberry Capital of the South. In fact, the festival is one of 
the largest and most beloved events in the area, drawing in visitors 
from across the state. In addition to the various attractions and 
entertainment offered, attendees can view the ``World's Largest 
Strawberry Shortcake,'' barbecue cookoffs, and beauty pageants. The 
festival also awards scholarships to local students.
  Mr. Speaker, the Pasadena Strawberry Festival is a testament to the 
fortitude and ingenuity of Pasadena's citizens, and it is an honor to 
recognize this milestone. Congratulations to those involved in the 
festival's continued growth and success. May the next 50 years prove 
even more fruitful.