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The amazing stories behind America's official state foods

State symbols
Alabama: brown shrimp
Alabama: brown shrimp
Arkansas: Cynthiana grape
Arkansas: Cynthiana grape
California: avocado
California: avocado
Connecticut: pizza
Connecticut: pizza
Florida: Key lime pie
Florida: Key lime pie
Georgia: peach
Georgia: peach
Idaho: potato
Idaho: potato
Illinois: popcorn
Illinois: popcorn
Louisiana: gumbo
Louisiana: gumbo
Maine: whoopie pie
Maine: whoopie pie
Massachusetts: Boston cream pie
Massachusetts: Boston cream pie
Missouri: ice cream cone
Missouri: ice cream cone
New Jersey: Taylor ham, egg and cheese sandwich
New Jersey: Taylor ham, egg and cheese sandwich
New Mexico: chilli pepper
New Mexico: chilli pepper
New York: yogurt
New York: yogurt
North Carolina: blueberry and strawberry
North Carolina: blueberry and strawberry
Oklahoma: watermelon
Oklahoma: watermelon
Rhode Island: calamari
Rhode Island: calamari
South Carolina: barbecue
South Carolina: barbecue
South Dakota: kuchen
South Dakota: kuchen
Tennessee: hot slaw
Tennessee: hot slaw
Texas: chilli
Texas: chilli
 Utah: Jell-O
 Utah: Jell-O
Vermont: apple pie
Vermont: apple pie
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Lesya Dolyuk/Shutterstock

State symbols

Every state has at least one food or cuisine it’s well known for, whether it's Maine's iconic lobster rolls or Illinois' delicious deep-dish pizzas. But some ingredients, dishes and even full meals have elevated status as official foods, specially chosen to symbolise an entire state. Here, we look at some of the most intriguing state foods and the stories behind them – from Florida's Key lime pie to New Jersey’s recently designated ham, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich.

Click or scroll though our gallery to discover the weird and wonderful stories behind America's state foods.

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Ella Buchan

26 April 2024

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