S*0205 Resolution, By Sheheen
 A SENATE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND MCLEOD FARMS FOR PROVIDING FRESH
 PRODUCE AND FARM TO TABLE PRODUCTS TO SOUTH CAROLINIANS FOR ONE HUNDRED YEARS
 AND TO CONGRATULATE THE MCLEOD FAMILY AND STAFF ON THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION.

   01/10/17  Senate Introduced and adopted (Senate Journal-page 109)

TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND MCLEOD FARMS FOR PROVIDING FRESH PRODUCE AND FARM TO TABLE PRODUCTS TO SOUTH CAROLINIANS FOR ONE HUNDRED YEARS AND TO CONGRATULATE THE MCLEOD FAMILY AND STAFF ON THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are pleased to learn that McLeod Farms of McBee celebrated its one hundredth anniversary in 2016; and

Whereas, family operated since 1916, owner Kemp McLeod represents the fourth generation to grow peaches on the 650 acre orchard, one of the largest in the area; and

Whereas, Kemp McLeod learned the operation from his father, Campbell McLeod, and takes great pride in raising every single tree of the one hundred thousand peach trees on the orchard. His passion runs through the veins of every single aspect of the farm's operations; and

Whereas, the orchard employs forty year-round workers, but this number swells to over two hundred during peach season, as they pick, grade, pack, and prepare shipments for millions of pounds of peaches; and

Whereas, McLeod Farms combines year-round human preparation with innovative technology, such as a modern drip irrigation system, high speed wind machines that save crops from devastating cold and frost damage, and hail prevention equipment that generates high frequency sound waves to protect fruit from hail damage; and

Whereas, the orchard produces twenty-two varieties of peaches, including the Cary Mac, which was developed exclusively by the McLeod family; and

Whereas, while peaches are the star of the orchard, McLeod Farms also produces a bountiful crop of strawberries in the spring, a plentiful summer crop of fresh fruits and vegetables, including blackberries, tomatoes, watermelon, cantaloupe, bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, and eggplant, and in the fall, pumpkins, gourds, winter squash, collards, and turnips; and

Whereas, along with the orchard, McLeod Farms operates the McLeod Farms Antique Museum and two roadside markets, where customers can buy fresh fruit, jarred fruit, sauces and jams, and baked goods made from fresh farm produce; and

Whereas, McLeod Farms invites the community to celebrate the harvest with three annual festivals: the Strawberry Festival in May, the Peach Festival in July, and the Fall Festival in October; and

Whereas, McLeod Farms has grown from selling peaches to the people traveling on the railroad to an international peach distributor and helps keep South Carolina as the leading peach producer in the Southeast. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the Senate, by this resolution, recognize and commend McLeod Farms for providing fresh produce and farm to table products to South Carolinians for one hundred years and congratulate the McLeod family and staff on this momentous occasion.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Kemp McLeod, owner of McLeod Farms.