WHEREAS, The story of the Walla Walla sweet onion began over a century ago on the Island of Corsica, off the west coast of Italy; and
     WHEREAS, A French soldier found an Italian sweet onion seed and brought it to the Walla Walla Valley; and
     WHEREAS, The Walla Walla sweet onion developed over several generations through the process of carefully hand selecting onions from each year's crop, ensuring exceptional sweetness, jumbo size, and round shape; and
     WHEREAS, Walla Walla sweet onion growers united in 1995 to form the United States Department of Agriculture's Federal Marketing Order #956 to protect their popular industry; and
     WHEREAS, Only growers within the legal production area of the Walla Walla Valley can market Walla Walla sweet onions; and
     WHEREAS, A trademark logo helps ensure that customers are getting the genuine Walla Walla sweet onion; and
     WHEREAS, The freshman students in Toni Miller's Kirkland Junior High humanities class have for 3 years studied the legislative process by requesting legislation naming the Walla Walla sweet onion as the official Washington state vegetable;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate recognizes the Walla Walla sweet onion as a unique and valuable product marketed by the Walla Walla sweet onion shippers; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate recognize the Walla Walla sweet onion shippers in the state of Washington who work to make the Walla Walla sweet onion industry successful through the promotion, marketing, research, and development of this trademark crop.