We can all guess what the official fruit of New York State is, can’t we? That’s right – the apple. Official drink of the New Yawkers? Milk. But now the race is on to name the official state vegetable. And the lawmakers are making a meal of it.

Shocking though it may seem, New York state has never chosen its official vegetable – and there are clearly some important people with a lot of time on their hands who are making this a top priority.

Two state senators in particular have put forward different plants as candidates for the state veggie title.

Senator David Carlucci, a first-term independent Democrat from Rockland County, is backing the onion in a bill he introduced last week. Meanwhile, Senator Michael F. Nozzolio, a Republican from Seneca County, is rallying support for sweet corn.

Carlucci has said he wants to showcase New York’s onion growers and encourage people to buy locally grown produce. Nozzolio is more passionate about placing the spotlight on sweet corn farming, although he has come under some criticism for his choice. You see, corn is officially a grain, not a vegetable.

Given the far greater impact of corn on the US economy, chances are sweet corn will win the race anyway.

[Source: New York Times]