REFERENCE TITLE: recognizing Japanese-American farmers

State of Arizona Senate Fifty-third Legislature Second Regular Session 2018

SCR 1035

Introduced by Senators Otondo: Brophy McGee

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

recognizing the contributions japanese-american farmers have made to the state of arizona.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Whereas, agriculture was the foundation of the enterprise and prosperity for Japanese-Americans in Arizona and on the Pacific coast; and

Whereas, by 1930 there were 879 Japanese, Issei and Nisei in Arizona.  The Japanese individuals who settled permanently in the Phoenix area after 1900 were primarily farmers; and

Whereas, before the arrival of Japanese-Americans to the state, agricultural production was limited to grains and alfalfa; and

Whereas, by the 1930s there were approximately 120 Japanese farms in the Salt River Valley, and many of these were purchased under the names of their American-born children; and

Whereas, Issei farmers introduced new crops and growing techniques that are now standard agricultural practices in Arizona; and

Whereas, Japanese farmers primarily experimented with garden vegetables, which resulted in crops that would become major agricultural products in the Phoenix area; and

Whereas, despite restrictions, Japanese farming grew steadily, and crops grown included lettuce, cantaloupe, strawberries, carrots, tomatoes and sweet corn; and

Whereas, there were three distinct Japanese communities in the Salt River Valley, including one in Mesa, one near South Mountain, and one in the Alhambra-Glendale area of northwest Phoenix, where the majority of Japanese farms were located; and

Whereas, the Kishiyama family, along with other families, started growing flowers and created their own irrigation system; and

Whereas, by the 1950s, Arizona's Japanese were shipping 250 boxes of flowers a day to nationwide destinations; and

Whereas, the flower gardens were a source of positive visibility and pride for Arizona and became a prominent Phoenix area attraction.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the Members of the Legislature recognize the tremendous contributions that Japanese-Americans have made to the State of Arizona, specifically their work in fostering successful agricultural practices during the twentieth century.