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Quiz about Official State Vegetables
Quiz about Official State Vegetables

Official State Vegetables Trivia Quiz


Any trivia novice should know the state capitals. A trivia expert might know the state flowers. But are you ready to take the ULTIMATE TRIVIA CHALLENGE? Do you know your state vegetables? (Generous clues are provided within each question.)

A multiple-choice quiz by uglybird. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
uglybird
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
172,397
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
11898
Awards
Editor's Choice
Last 3 plays: kitter96 (9/10), Eruditio (9/10), martin_cube (9/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Unbelievably, some insensitive hacks have written humorous news stories trivializing the importance of the selection of state vegetables. Worse, some state legislatures have treated the topic with such levity as to bring discredit and dishonor to innocent vegetables. Reportedly, what two non-vegetables did the Pennsylvania legislature propose to receive Official State Vegetable Status? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. As this quiz will expose, some states seem to take a very liberal stance on what can be considered a vegetable. What was in 2007 designated the state vegetable of Oklahoma? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Perhaps you're starting to think there's something a little wrong with a person who seems to get so worked up about state vegetables? Don't try to deny it! Don't you think I can hear you thinking out there? Well, rival commercial interests certainly took the choice of the official Utah state vegetable seriously, engaging in intensive lobbying and the making public statements. Which two roughly spherical, edible plant products fought for the distinction? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. After intense lobbying efforts by their respective industries, which of the two candidates for state vegetable did the Utah legislature choose? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Onions are a popular choice for official state vegetables. Interestingly, the first state to pick an onion as its vegetable was the first of the three "onion states" admitted to the union. Which state would that be? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Sad to say, we're not quite done with onions yet. According to the LookSmart website, the sweet onion "has roots going back to the Canary Islands." Maybe the "tall tale" image of onions with roots thousands of miles long influenced a state given to bragging, particularly about size. What large state in the Southwest picked the sweet onion as its official state vegetable?

Answer: (Get along little doggie)
Question 7 of 10
7. If you were a legislator would you pick a plant knowing that its status as a vegetable was questionable? Would that not be inviting bitter controversy? (Don't you find rhetorical questions annoying?) What almost red thing, considered by many to be a fruit not a vegetable, did the state of Arkansas chose as its state vegetable? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Sadly, it is possible that money rather than principle guides the selection of state vegetables in some cases. New Mexico could be a case in point. What two near-vegetables are the official state vegetables for New Mexico? (Think Mexican Food) Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. In my opinion, Idaho should be given high marks for their selection of a state vegetable. They went with the popular; they went with the obvious; they went with a vegetable that may have ruined the career of a politician when he tried to spell it; they went with the ____________.

Answer: (no "e" on the end)
Question 10 of 10
10. When dinosaurs roamed ancient America, scientists inform us, they may have eaten a vegetable native and indigenous to these United States. North Carolina and Louisiana have seen fit to choose this delectable, orange-fleshed tuber, packed with vitamin A as their official state vegetable. What is the name of this Thanksgiving treat often served with marshmallows? Hint



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quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Unbelievably, some insensitive hacks have written humorous news stories trivializing the importance of the selection of state vegetables. Worse, some state legislatures have treated the topic with such levity as to bring discredit and dishonor to innocent vegetables. Reportedly, what two non-vegetables did the Pennsylvania legislature propose to receive Official State Vegetable Status?

Answer: A member of the legislature and a fungus

A vicious anti-vegetable article at delewareonline.com takes a very belated swipe at its neighboring state, Pennsylvania. Delawareonline.com reports that about 10 years ago a Pennsylvania legislator nominated a colleague for state vegetable. The other nominee not only was not a vegetable but was not even a plant!
2. As this quiz will expose, some states seem to take a very liberal stance on what can be considered a vegetable. What was in 2007 designated the state vegetable of Oklahoma?

Answer: Watermelon

The Senator who sponsored the bill, Don Barrington, claimed that because the plant is from the same family as the cucumber (a vegetable) then it is a vegetable too. However, this is a false argument, since botanically speaking the cucumber is a fruit, not a vegetable.

I hope that's clear.
3. Perhaps you're starting to think there's something a little wrong with a person who seems to get so worked up about state vegetables? Don't try to deny it! Don't you think I can hear you thinking out there? Well, rival commercial interests certainly took the choice of the official Utah state vegetable seriously, engaging in intensive lobbying and the making public statements. Which two roughly spherical, edible plant products fought for the distinction?

Answer: The noble beet and the Spanish onion

The epic conflict between the onion interests and beet lobby was settled through compromise. Although it lost the battle for the coveted "official vegetable" designation, the beet was named Utah's historic state vegetable. Do you suppose any onion lobbyist was heard to exclaim, "Just like I told you. The beet is history!" Yeah, I hope not too.
4. After intense lobbying efforts by their respective industries, which of the two candidates for state vegetable did the Utah legislature choose?

Answer: The Spanish onion

Is my xenophobia showing or am I not the only one who is saddened by the spectacle of an immigrant vegetable being accorded "official" status. One would think that there would be a perfectly good native American edible plant with meaningful commercial potential that could have been chosen.
5. Onions are a popular choice for official state vegetables. Interestingly, the first state to pick an onion as its vegetable was the first of the three "onion states" admitted to the union. Which state would that be?

Answer: Georgia

Alaska and Hawaii are not "onion states." Onions may have originated in Iran. Georgia picked the Vidalia Onion. The "Vidalia Vegetable News" claims that many are familiar with the history of the Vidalia onion industry. I consider this unlikely.
6. Sad to say, we're not quite done with onions yet. According to the LookSmart website, the sweet onion "has roots going back to the Canary Islands." Maybe the "tall tale" image of onions with roots thousands of miles long influenced a state given to bragging, particularly about size. What large state in the Southwest picked the sweet onion as its official state vegetable?

Answer: Texas

I was shocked to learn as I researched this important topic how few states have bothered to designate a state vegetable. I was more dismayed when I found the number added up to less than 10 and realized I would have to pad this quiz. Worse, three states chose some type of onion, diluting the prospects of using vegetable facts for interesting information.
7. If you were a legislator would you pick a plant knowing that its status as a vegetable was questionable? Would that not be inviting bitter controversy? (Don't you find rhetorical questions annoying?) What almost red thing, considered by many to be a fruit not a vegetable, did the state of Arkansas chose as its state vegetable?

Answer: South Arkansas vine ripe pink tomato

The Arkansas general assembly took this controversial action in 1987. The Pink Tomato Festival is held each year in Bradley County, Arkansas. An heirloom tomato deed site indicates that Bradley County "today is famous for its annual Pink Tomato Festival." This too seems unlikely.
8. Sadly, it is possible that money rather than principle guides the selection of state vegetables in some cases. New Mexico could be a case in point. What two near-vegetables are the official state vegetables for New Mexico? (Think Mexican Food)

Answer: Beans and chili peppers

With respect to the bean/pepper situation in New Mexico the New Holland News online points out that "neither is a true vegetable, because over the last three decades the chile pepper, technically a fruit, has become a $60 million crop for farmers in New Mexico alone." (Note: "chile" is an allowed alternative spelling according to Dictionary.com) An informed resident of New Mexico has pointed out to me that chili peppers are a serious matter in that state.

It is entirely possible that no financial considerations were involved.
9. In my opinion, Idaho should be given high marks for their selection of a state vegetable. They went with the popular; they went with the obvious; they went with a vegetable that may have ruined the career of a politician when he tried to spell it; they went with the ____________.

Answer: Potato

Ah, but once again, is a potato a vegetable? If it is, why is there "Vegetable and Potatoe Chowder" at recipsource.com? (Their spelling, not mine.) If Potatoes are veggies, why is there a Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association? It should be so simple to find an actual vegetable to be your state vegetable!
10. When dinosaurs roamed ancient America, scientists inform us, they may have eaten a vegetable native and indigenous to these United States. North Carolina and Louisiana have seen fit to choose this delectable, orange-fleshed tuber, packed with vitamin A as their official state vegetable. What is the name of this Thanksgiving treat often served with marshmallows?

Answer: The sweet potato

It was a fourth grade class rather than a commercially motivated sweet potato industry lobbyist that nominated the sweet potato as state vegetable for the state of North Carolina. In fact, the author was inspired to create this quiz on learning that February is North Carolina Sweet Potato Month.
Source: Author uglybird

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor minch before going online.
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