"state fruit" news and stories

Along with some legislation about exotic pets and street racing that takes effect tomorrow, the state of Minnesota has just announced that their official state fruit will be the Honeycrisp apple. The apples are a hybrid of Honeygold and Macoun apples, and they were first developed at the University of Minnesota in the 1960s. Today, the apples are grown in several surrounding states, including Michigan and Wisconsin, as well, but it can only be grown by licensed producers with the permission of the University. The apples are exceptionally crisp, juicy and aromatic, making them popular eating apples.

Other edible icons for the state are milk (the state drink), walleye (the state fish), blueberry muffins (the state muffin) and morel mushrooms (the state mushroom), most of which were selected during the 1980s.

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Yesterday Alabama Gov. Bob Riley signed a bill that made the peach Alabama's official state tree fruit, according to the Clanton Advertiser. Some of you may recall a post about a minor row between Alabama and Georgia ("The Peach State") over whether or not the peach should have that title in Alabama. Most Georgia and Alabama politicians involved regarded it as a friendly dispute; and they should, considering the fact that California produces more peaches than either state. Pride for Alabama peaches is obviously as strong as ever, judging by a recent comment from Alabama Sen. Hank Erwin: "they are better peaches than Georgia ever thought about."

While Florida tries to nominate a state pie, it looks like New Hampshire may soon have a state fruit: the pumpkin. At the urging of a group of third and fourth graders from a New Hampshire elementary school, a NH state representative sponsored a bill to make the orange gourd the state's official fruit. Much to the joy of the little lobbyists, the bill recently passed the House. The next step is for the young pumpkin pushers to testify at a Senate hearing, according to The Boston Globe. New Hampshire hosts an annual pumpkin festival and has, in the past, produced pumpkins of record-setting size.

State representatives in Alabama recently moved to make peaches the state's official tree fruit. As can be expected, neighboring politicians in Georgia are less than tickled. The peach is already the state fruit of Georgia and South Carolina.  Today's New York Times had some choice quotes from some of the politicians involved. Rep. James M. Martin, who sponsored the Alabama peach nomination, had this to say: "if you've ever tasted Alabama peaches, you'd throw rocks at Georgia." Georgia's agricultural commissioner replied, saying "I didn't realize Alabama had any peaches at all." According to the NYT, South Carolina produces more peaches than Georgia or Alabama.

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