New Hampshire already has a state bird- the purple finch...a state flower- the purple lilac....and even a state amphibian- the red spotted newt.
It doesn't have a state fruit...yet.
But if a group of lobbyist have their way than that may change.
And the lobbyists would get an education in Democracy at the same time.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Dan Gorenstein has the story.
Typically lobbyists at the statehouse wear orange badges, not orange t-shirts.
But this group of first timers had the nerve to sport orange t-shirts...with pumpkins on them.
The 15 3rd and 4th grade students from Wells Memorial School in Harrisville believed their wardrobe could help influence the lawmakers.
They had come to Concord to testify for their bill to designate the pumpkin as the state's fruit.
Teacher Kathy Frick tells the story of how the kids got to Concord in the first place.
1:45 It happened, and we read about some kidos in Fl. That lobbied their legislature to make the orange the state fruit b/c it had never been made official. And I said, you know, NH doesn't have a state fruit. We went on line, decided it would be the p. called Rep. Allen asked him to sponsor it, and we were off.
Over the past few months the students slowly began to craft presentations to prepare for the hearing.
The measure, HB 1111 was assigned to the House Committee on Environment and Agriculture.
Representative David Babson is the chair.
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:00 the first speaker for the bill is Mr. John Silk. John are you here?
:15 Good morning Mr. Chairman, and members of the Committee, my name is Johnny Silk. I am here to speak about the pumpkin as a fruit and to give you a little historical and current uses about the p. NH.
After Silk handled the history, his classmates discussed science and literature.
1:36 they are high in fiber. Their bright orange color tells us they are loaded with beta carotene. This is converted to Vitamin A. According to the University of Il. Extension, it helps fight some kinds of cancer. There are only 50 calories in one cup of p. and no cholesterol. It also contains vitamin B and C.
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:18 my name is Logan Symons...I am going to speak about the image of the p. in the media and in literature.
1:27 one of the most famous images of a p. has a glowing, sparkling, magical fruit comes from the Disney movie Cinderella...as soon as that fairy godmother waved her magic wand and went bibbity, bobbity boo the p. moved into the royal coach business. What an image! To have the p. as the symbol of NH brings all the good feelings with it. we think it's a great choice.
Not everyone supported making the pumpkin the state fruit.
Local apple grower Chuck Souther.
:55 I think the apple should be the state fruit. And I have several reasons for that.
2:00 while p. may be good for you, let's face it, they are just big and orange and at the end of Halloween they basically rot and go away. One weekend a year they are go. We market apples nearly year round.
The House members mostly lavished praise on the students for their case.
But Committee Chair Babson asked Johnny Silk at least one tough question.
4:32 John, I have a question...up where I live, a lot of people grow apples. Why do you think we should have the state fruit be a p. rather than an apple? Well, the apple is a state fruit in Vermont and in other states. So we thought we should have something new.
After the hearing, students like 9 year old Madison Norris said she didn't expect any opposition to the pumpkin plan.
2:46 when we heard him going against the p. we were all like bummed out, b/c he was going against us... I think it should work out.
3:10 I think I was bummed out b/c Ms. Frick said don't be bummed out. But it was hard not to. I don't know why. But I just was.
The bill now heads to a sub-committee where representatives will discuss the merits of making the pumpkin or the apple the official state fruit.
A number of students vowed to follow the measure- saying they want to make sure the Committee knows pumpkins can help cure snake bites as well as make freckles disappear.
Despite the surprise of competition from the apple grower 4th graders Alicia Cormier and Reanna Parker were satisfied overall.
2:38 if you do have kids, what do you think you would tell them about today? I would tell them mostly that when I was little I made the pumpkin the official state fruit. And if the p. did not become the official state fruit, I would mostly say...still had a great time, and worked really hard, and maybe you guys can pick a state fruit and have fun. Maybe.
The students ended their day out on Main Street in Concord, passing out pumpkin pins.
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:21 would you be willing to support the p.
For NHPR News, I'm DG.
