Official State Foods, 2nd Serving Quiz

Answer: Idaho

The potato is an ancient New World food, introduced to Europe in 1500s. The word "potato" derives from Spanish word "patata" which derives from the Nahuatl word "potatl". The average American consumes 140 pounds of potatoes per year. Idaho farmers grow a lot of potatoes, which became the state vegetable in 2002.

Answer: Jell-O

Long a favourite of the United States Senator from Utah, Mike Lee, Utah adopted Jell-O as its official state snack. Lee hosts Wednesday afternoon "Jell-O with the Senator" parties at his Washington, D.C., office. The enabling legislation in the Utah state legislature recognized that "Utah has been the number one per capita consumer of Jell-O® brand gelatin for many years."

Answer: strawberries and blueberries

Both strawberries (genus fragaria) and blueberries (genus vaccinium) are grown throughout North Carolina. The two berries were adopted as co-state-berries in 2001. It was a sort of compromise.

Answer: Washington

Acting in 2014, the state legislature of Washington adopted the Olympia oyster, which is the only oyster native to the Pacific Northwest. The bill stated "This native oyster species plays an important role in the history and culture that surrounds shellfish in Washington State and along the west coast of the United States." Connecticut, Mississippi, Virginia and Louisiana also use oysters as state symbols but only Washington has the Olympia oyster.

Answer: Pawpaw

The Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is a deciduous tree native to the Eastern United States. It produces a large fruit similar to a custard-apple or cherimoya. The fruit is sweet and is normally eaten raw. Ohio adopted the Pawpaw as its state fruit in 2008.

Answer: Oregon

Oregon adopted Cantharellus formosus, the pacific golden chanterelle, as its state fungus in 1999. The grotesque but tasty mushroom grows extensively in Oregon. Harvest is July to December. The adopting legislation says "the Pacific golden chanterelle is coveted for its culinary, nutritional and medicinal value."

Answer: the Dutch oven

Comparing the Dutch oven to other pioneer necessities such as the ax and the rifle, Arkansas adopted it as the "State Historic Cooking Vessel" in 2001. Cast iron Dutch ovens were used by settlers and cowboys to prepare many meals by baking, roasting, boiling, braising, frying, simmering and steaming over coals or an open fire. Utah also adopted the Dutch oven as its official state cooking pot.

Answer: peach pie

The state's website says "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." Sponsored by fifth and sixth grade students at St. John's Lutheran School in Dover, the peach pie was chosen as the state dessert.

Answer: Mayhaw jelly and sugar cane jelly

Louisiana chose these two jellies to represent itself in 2003. Mayhaw (Crataegus Aestivales) grows wild in the bayous. The fruit is collected by boat and made into jelly. Sugar cane jelly is made by reducing raw sugar cane juice by boiling. The result is surprisingly not overly sweet. A variety of sugar cane jelly is made with chopped hot peppers added.

Answer: Moxie

Moxie has a slightly bitter flavour which is, perhaps, an acquired taste. It was one of the first commercially produced soft drinks in America (1876). It is made in Bedford, New Hampshire, was invented in Lowell, Massachusetts, by a medical doctor from Union, Maine. Maine adopted it in 2005. The name has entered the language as a word meaning "guts, spirit, daring or gusto."