Food fight in Albany: What should our state vegetable be?

4/6/11
news
By amNY

Food fight in Albany: What should our state vegetable be?

Photo credit: Getty Images

Forget political mudslinging — this Albany dispute has the makings of a genuine food fight.

New York, it turns out, doesn’t have an official vegetable, and state Sen. David Carlucci (D-Rockland County) thinks the onion deserves the top honor.

Sen. Michael Nozzolio (R-Seneca County), however, is salivating at the idea of sweet corn as our veggie-in-chief, even though corn is actually a grain. Both senators have introduced measures supporting their menu item of choice.

Carlucci said he supports the onion because it will boost the state's bustling onion industry. Carlucci's offices didn't return calls for comment, but told The New York Times: “When people go into a restaurant in New York City, they should be asking and making sure: Is this a New York-grown onion?"

New York already has enough official foods for a decent meal: Apple is the official fruit, milk is the official beverage, and brook trout is the official fresh-water fish. Nozzolio has been lobbying since 2007 for sweet corn. His offices didn't return calls seeking comment.

According to the Department of Agriculture, the state harvested 23,500 acres of sweet corn to bring in $71.1 million last year, versus 10,200 acres of onion for $54.2 million.

Vote

Which do you support for the title of New York State vegetable?

Sweet corn Onion Not so big on the veggies. How about corn- and onion-shaped marzipan?
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Food fight in Albany: What should our state vegetable be?

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