Nov 30, 2021 - Politics

Florida's state dessert debate

Illustration of two speech bubbles. One with key lime pie in the bubble, the other with strawberry short cake in the bubble.

Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios

Passing legislation to designate a state dessert might not be a piece of cake for Florida.

What's happening: Rep. Lawrence McClure (R-Dover) and Sen. Danny Burgess (R- Zephyrhills) recently filed bills to make strawberry shortcake Florida's official state dessert, per Florida Politics.

  • Burgess represents strawberry farmers in Pasco, Hillsborough and Polk counties and wants recognition for "the significant impact this fruit bears on the state's economy."
  • "I think it's time that we all stand tall for shortcake," he told reporter Anne Geggis of Florida Politics.

But, but, but: Key lime pie was designated Florida's "state pie" by the legislature in 2006 after years of back and forth over whether the designation should go to pecan pie.

  • Lawmakers are currently debating whether a state dessert and state pie would be too sweet for Florida's venerated official symbols.

Tell us what you think: Who takes the cake as the supreme dessert? Should strawberry shortcake have its day? Or should key lime occu-pie the only official top spot?

🗳 Vote now in our poll.

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