WHEREAS, many states have designated an official state dessert to accompany their state flag, state tree, state flower and state bug; and
WHEREAS, peach farming is an important part of Delaware’s agricultural heritage, as the peach was introduced to Delaware in Colonial times and expanded as an industry in the nineteenth century with the completion of Delaware Railroad; and
WHEREAS, Delaware was the country’s leading producer of peaches for part of the nineteenth century, at its peak shipping 6 million baskets to market in 1875; and
WHEREAS, more than 2 million peach trees were planted in Kent County in 1890, and the county continued to be a major producer of peaches through the 1950s; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of Delaware’s reputation as the "Peach State", the General Assembly formally adopted the peach blossom as the State’s official state flower on May 9, 1895; and
WHEREAS, the fifth and sixth grade students of St. John’s Lutheran School in Dover, with the support of the entire student body, have suggested that peach pie be adopted as this State’s official dessert because of the historical and agricultural significance of Delaware’s peach farming industry; and
WHEREAS, in the words of St. John’s fifth and sixth grade students, peach pie is "delicious", "gooey", "good anytime of the day" and "easy to make fresh", simply requiring "fresh peaches and sugar between two layers of crunchy, flaky crust"; and
WHEREAS, the General Assembly believes designating peach pie as the State’s official dessert to be appropriate and that such designation will enhance economic development and tourism initiatives by creating new opportunities for festivals, fairs, recipe contests and other cultural activities.
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend Chapter 3, Title 29 of the Delaware Code by adding a new "§321" thereto as follows:
"§ 321. State Dessert.
Peach Pie shall be the official dessert of the State.".
Approved July 30, 2009