[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12538]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  PEACHES FROM SOUTH CAROLINA FARMERS

 Mr. HOLLINGS. Madam President, today, peaches from my home 
State have been delivered to offices throughout the Senate and the U.S. 
Capitol. Those of us here in Washington can cool off from the summer 
heat with fresh, juicy peaches, thanks to South Carolina's peach 
farmers.
  For a tiny State, South Carolina is second, only to California, in 
peach production. This year we planted 16,000 acres, and expect to 
harvest 160 to 180 million pounds--twice what we harvested last year 
when cold weather devastated the crop. Because of hot, dry weather this 
past month, the peaches are slightly smaller, but the small size 
usually results in a sweeter peach for the consumer. So with all due 
respect to my colleagues from Georgia, South Carolina is known as the 
``Tastier Peach State'' for good reason.
  Earlier this spring, in a bipartisan fashion, this Congress passed a 
generous farm bill that when times are tough, will help the people who 
feed us. I voted for it. I did so because farmers are dedicated people 
who need support they can depend on. I hope as Senators and their 
staffs feast on these peaches, they think about the farmers who get up 
early every morning and labor all summer in the heat and humidity to 
bring us this delicious, nutritious, and satisfying harvest. We are so 
fortunate to have in this country safe, plentiful, and affordable fresh 
fruit and vegetables--but this Congress can never take that for 
granted.
  I thank the South Carolina Peach Council, and especially David 
Winkles and the South Carolina Farm Bureau, for giving the U.S. Senate 
a taste of South Carolina. And I remind the rest of America to ask for 
South Carolina peaches at their groceries.

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