State Fruit Rankings
- statesnrates
- Oct 2, 2023
- 4 min read
This week we ranked the official state fruits. Surprisingly, only 31 of the 50 states have an official state fruit, and several of those 31 states have the same fruit.
The criteria we used this week to rank the state fruits is as follows:
Level of Originality
This measurement examines how many other states have a fruit as their official state fruit. The best state fruit picks won’t share the title of official fruit with other states.
Visual and Taste Appeal of the Fruit
This measurement examines how appetizing and good a fruit looks.
How Well Known a State’s Fruit is
This measurement examines the popularity of a state’s fruit. How well known is it that this is the official fruit of this state?
1. Texas Red Grapefruit
The Texas Red Grapefruit was first discovered in 1929 by Texas citrus growers. This fruit generates the highest revenue among other tree fruits in the state. The grapefruit was adopted as the official state fruit in 1993.
2. Orange
Florida adopted the orange as its state fruit in 2005. The idea was brought to legislatures by an elementary school class. They noticed that Florida’s official beverage was orange juice and the official flower was the Orange Blossom. However, Florida did not have a state fruit. Over half of the citrus sold in the U.S. comes from Florida.
3. Peach
Georgia is known as “the Peach State.” This name goes all the way back to the Civil War. Georgia farmers started growing peaches as an alternative to cotton, and Georgia became a large peach producer. Today, Georgia’s share of peach production is much lower than it used to be. The peach was adopted as the state’s official fruit in 1995.
4.Sandhill Plum
Kansas adopted the Sandhill Plum as its official state fruit in 2022. A group of over 400 4th and 5th grade students from 24 different schools helped get the Sandhill Plum signed into law. The Sandhill Plum is a native fruit to Kansas.
5. Pear
Oregon and Washington together produce 84% of the country’s fresh pears. Oregon is the 2nd top producer behind Washington. The state officially adopted the pear in 2005.
6. Cherry
Utah selected the cherry to be its official state fruit in 1997. A group of 2nd graders campaigned for the adoption. They found cherries to be the most economically beneficial fruit for Utah.
7. Huckleberry
Idaho adopted the huckleberry as its state fruit in 2000. Idaho has several native huckleberry species.
Montana adopted the huckleberry in 2023. A group of elementary school students petitioned for the adoption. Huckleberries are native to the northwest and have never been cultivated. The only place they can be found is in the wild.
8. Chokecherry
The Chokecherry is a wild berry in North Dakota. It is commonly used in jelly, syrup, and wine. The fruit was adopted by North Dakota in 2007.
9. Rhode Island Greening Apple
The Rhode Island Greening apple was selected to be the official fruit in 1991. The apple was developed in 1796 in Rhode Island. The apple is great for cooking because it maintains its sharp taste.
10. Northern Highbush Blueberry
New Jersey adopted the blueberry as its official fruit in 2004 after a 4th grade class petitioned for the change. The Northern Highbush Blueberry specifically was chosen. The state produces 22% of the country’s blueberries.
11. Strawberry
Delaware chose the strawberry in 2010 to be its state fruit due to agricultural importance. Strawberries grown in Delaware are grown for taste, not size or shelf life.
Louisiana adopted the strawberry as its state fruit in 2001 due the 380+ acres of strawberry harvested every year in the state.
North Carolina chose the strawberry to be its official fruit in 2001 when a class of 4th graders petitioned for it to become the state’s official fruit.
12. Honeycrisp Apple
The Honeycrisp Apple was created in 1960 when Macoun apples and Honeygold apples were crossed as part of an apple breeding experiment at the University of Minnesota. The Honeycrisp apple was adopted as the official state fruit in 2006.
13. Goldrush Apple
The Goldrush apple was chosen by a fourth grade class in 2007 to be the state fruit. The Goldrush apple is disease resistant and has a long storage life.
14. Gold Delicious Apple
The Gold Delicious apple was adopted as the official fruit of West Virginia in 1995. This variant of apple was discovered by Anderson Mullins in West Virginia in 1905.
15. Apple
Vermont adopted the apple in 1999. Most of Vermont’s apple farms practice sustainable farming. The state also exports a lot of apple products such as apple cider and applesauce.
Washington adopted the apple in 1989. Washington is the top-apple producing state in the country.
New York adopted the apple in 1976 due to the many varieties of apples that are grown in the state.
16. Blueberry
Maine selected the Lowbush Blueberry to be its official state fruit in 1991. The Lowbush Blueberry is a wild blueberry that grows in Maine.
17. Pumpkin
The pumpkin was chosen as the state fruit of New Hampshire in 2006. A group of 3rd and 4th graders campaigned for the adoption.
18. Blackberry
Alabama adopted the blackberry in 2004 due to two 3rd grade teachers and their students.
Kentucky also adopted the blackberry in 2004.
19. Cranberry
Wisconsin chose the cranberry as the state fruit in 2003. Wiscon produces over half of the cranberries in the country.
Massachusetts adopted the cranberry in 1994. A 5th grade class campaigned for the adoption for 2 years before it was officially signed into law.
20. Tomato
Ohio adopted the tomato in 2009. In 1870, Alexander W. Livingston, an Ohio resident, developed the Paragon Tomato. Today, Ohio is the country’s 3rd largest tomato producer.
Tennessee selected the tomato to be the state’s official fruit in 2003. The specific tomato adopted is the Lycopersicon Lycopersicum.
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