SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 11

(By Senators Edgell, Love, Bailey, Dempsey, Hunter, Ross, Unger, Facemyer, Guills and Weeks)

[Originating in the Committee on Agriculture]



Congratulating Blue Smoke, Inc., of Ansted and its co-owners, Robin Hildebrand and Cecilia Backus, for winning "Best Salsa, Sauce or Condiment in the Americas" at the 2002 Americas Food and Beverage Show held in Miami, Florida.

Whereas, Robin Hildebrand started Blue Smoke, Inc., in 1993 in the basement of her home; and
Whereas, In 1993 Cecilia Backus came on board as production manager and is now a partner/owner in the shop; and
Whereas, In 2000 Blue Smoke, Inc., a top West Virginia agribusiness success story, celebrated its ten-year anniversary; and
Whereas, Blue Smoke, Inc., features an 11-item product line, employs seven people and recently opened a new production facility in a restored storefront in downtown Ansted which also houses a gift shop selling gourmet foods and works of more than 60 West Virginia artisans ; and
Whereas, With its Blue Smoke Salsa, Blue Smoke, Inc., brought back one of the top awards from the 2002 Americas Food and Beverage Show, an international competition; and
 Whereas, Blue Smoke Salsa won the top award out of a field of approximately three dozen entries after being judged by a prestigious group of top food and trade experts, including a syndicated columnist and author and the Peruvian Trade Commissioner ; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate hereby congratulates Blue Smoke, Inc., of Ansted and its co-owners, Robin Hildebrand and Cecilia Backus, for winning "Best Salsa, Sauce or Condiment in the Americas" at the 2002 Americas Food and Beverage Show ; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to Blue Smoke, Inc., and its co-owners and employees.