HR 9003A 2003
1	House Resolution
2	A resolution recognizing Florida Orange Groves, Inc., and
3	Winery.
4
5	WHEREAS, Florida Orange Groves, Inc., and Winery is a
6	family-owned business in St. Petersburg that had its beginnings
7	in the early 1970's packing and shipping fresh citrus, soon
8	expanding to include a gift shop and retail sales of fresh-
9	squeezed juice, and
10	WHEREAS, by late 1997, the business had grown to include a
11	winery offering fine wines and premium wine products made only
12	from pure Florida citrus juice, and the winery, one of only
13	eight in the state, is the only one in Pinellas County, and
14	WHEREAS, annually since 1997, Florida Orange Groves, Inc.,
15	and Winery has received national and international recognition
16	and has won 92 medals at fruit-wine judging contests such as the
17	prestigious competition held at the Indiana State Fair, at the
18	Florida State Fair, and most recently at the first Wines of the
19	South Competition held in Tennessee in November 2002, and
20	WHEREAS, as further evidence of the superior quality of
21	these fine wines, the Florida Citrus Commission in 2000 granted
22	the winery the use of its "Florida Sunshine Tree" licensing
23	insignia, the first time in its 65-year history the commission
24	has granted such right for use on a beverage other than orange
25	or grapefruit juice; and in 2002, the Florida Department of
26	Agriculture began promoting the winery's Florida Grapefruit wine
27	jointly with Florida Seafood, NOW, THEREFORE,
28
29	Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
30	Florida:
31
32	That the House of Representatives recognizes the Florida
33	Orange Groves, Inc., and Winery for its outstanding
34	contributions to the wine industry of Florida.
35	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be
36	presented to Vincent R. Shook, President, Florida Orange Groves,
37	Inc., and Winery, as a tangible token of the sentiments
38	expressed herein.