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Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the Pasadena Strawberry Festival

Floor Speech

Date: May 18, 2023
Location: Washington, DC

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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.

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