Bill 735

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               735
Ratification Number:       410
Act Number:                360
Introducing Body:          Senate
Subject:                   Designating the peach as the official
                           fruit of the state, milk as the official state
                           beverage, and the lettered olive as the
                           official state seashell

(A360, R410, S735)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTIONS 1-1-680, 1-1-690, AND 1-1-695, SO AS TO PROMOTE THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BY DESIGNATING THE PEACH AS THE OFFICIAL FRUIT OF THE STATE, MILK AS THE OFFICIAL STATE BEVERAGE, AND THE LETTERED OLIVE AS THE OFFICIAL STATE SEASHELL.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Findings

SECTION 1. The General Assembly finds that:

(1) South Carolina is the nation's leading peach producer and shipper east of the Mississippi River producing, in 1981, the largest crop ever - over four hundred thirty million pounds, worth over sixty-two million dollars;

(2) Statistically reported as "the Nation's Fresh Peach State in Interstate Shipments", South Carolina in 1981 packed and shipped three hundred ninety-three million pounds of peaches;

(3) Several large in-state markets have enabled South Carolina to earn the distinction of shipping more peaches out of state than any other state;

(4) Peach production forecasts indicate that by 1985 South Carolina will produce more fresh peaches than any other state in the nation, which will give a tremendous boost to the state's economy.

Peach declared official fruit

SECTION 2. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 1-1-680. The peach is the official fruit of the State."

Findings

SECTION 3. The General Assembly finds that:

(1) The use of milk and milk products is the best way to provide a healthy but varied diet;

(2) Over twenty percent of the nation's protein is supplied by dairy products;

(3) Seventy-two percent of all the nation's calcium comes from dairy products;

(4) Dairy farmers are found in every county of this State except seven;

(5) Nearly fifty thousand cows produce nearly five hundred seventy million pounds of milk annually in the State with a gross volume alone of over eighty-nine million sixty-two thousand dollars;

(6) The dairy industry in this State represents a one hundred million dollar enterprise.

Milk declared official beverage

SECTION 4. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 1-1-690. Milk is the official state beverage."

Findings

SECTION 5. The General Assembly finds that:

(1) South Carolina's coastal area is one of the most widely promoted areas in the State for recreation and tourism.

(2) Shelling along the beaches of South Carolina is becoming increasingly popular among residents as well as with the tourist trade. It is a form of recreation which can be enjoyed by a wide spectrum of the population.

(3) The Lettered Olive shell is quite prolific along the South Carolina coast and will make the finding of the shell more meaningful for South Carolinians, tourists, and shell collectors.

(4) The Lettered Olive was found and named by a South Carolinian, Dr. Edmund Ravenel of Charleston, who was an early pioneer in conchology. This name was given to this shell because of its hieroglyphic type markings.

Lettered olive declared official shell

SECTION 6. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 1-1-695. The Lettered Olive, Oliva sayana, is the official shell of the State."

Time effective

SECTION 7. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.