EXHIBIT 23.9


                                     CONSENT

         I, the undersigned, hereby consent to being named as about to become a
director in a registration statement (the "Registration Statement") to be filed
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), registering
(i) securities to be issued and sold by Heritage Propane Partners, L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership (the "Partnership"), Heritage Operating, L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership (the "Operating Partnership"), and Heritage Service
Corp., a Delaware corporation ("Heritage Service"), Heritage-Bi State, L.LC., a
Delaware limited liability company ("Heritage-Bi State"), and Heritage Energy
Resources, L.L.C., an Oklahoma limited liability company ("Heritage Energy" and,
together with Heritage Service and Heritage-Bi State, the "Subsidiary
Guarantors") from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act for
an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $800,000,000 and (ii) the
offer and sale by certain unitholders of the Partnership of up to 6,415,762
common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership. Such
securities include (i) common units representing limited partner interests in
the Partnership (the "Common Units"); (ii) unsecured debt securities of the
Partnership, in one or more series, consisting of notes, debentures or other
evidences of indebtedness (the "Partnership Debt Securities"); (iii) unsecured
debt securities of the Operating Partnership, in one or more series, consisting
of notes, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness (the "Operating
Partnership Debt Securities" and, together with the Partnership Debt Securities,
the "Debt Securities"); and (iv) guarantees (the "Guarantees") of such Debt
Securities by one or more of the Partnership, the Operating Partnership and the
Subsidiary Guarantors.



                                                /s/ Kenneth A. Hersh
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Kenneth A. Hersh



         Dated: 1/2/04
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