The Official Food of Every State in the U.S
Eat your way through America the beautiful with our guide to the official food of every state.
Did you know that most states in the U.S. have designated official foods ranging from official state dishes and desserts to state nuts, legumes and more? Scroll through the slideshow below to learn more about the unique meats, treats and iconic dishes that have become known as “official foods” across the U.S.
In This Article
Alabama
Lane Cake
The official dessert of Alabama is the Lane Cake. This layer cake is made with bourbon, pecans, coconut and raisins and earned its official title in 2016.
Alaska
Giant King Salmon
The official state fish of Alaska is the Giant King Salmon, which you may otherwise recognize as the Chinook salmon.
Arizona
Apache Trout
The only state food recognized in Arizona is the state fish, the Apache trout. This freshwater member of the salmon family was historically found only in the White, Black and Little Colorado Rivers at elevations of more than 5,900 feet.
Arkansas
Rice
Arkansas has an official state fruit, vegetable, beverage and nut. But their official state grain is rice, which might be the most fitting since Arkansas is the No. 1 rice-producing state in the nation.
California
Pistachios
The Golden State has actually declared four different nuts as official state nuts: almonds, walnuts, pistachios and pecans. But did you know that 98% of the country’s supply of pistachios is grown in California?
Colorado
Green Chiles
Colorado has yet to declare an official state food, but many associate the Centennial State with green chiles. But it’s worth noting that Colorado and New Mexico have been locked in a head-to-head rivalry for years over who deserves to stake their claim on this popular pepper.
Connecticut
Snickerdoodle
Have you ever heard of an official state cookie? Connecticut’s official state dessert is ice cream, which pairs beautifully with the state cookie — a warm, melt-in-your-mouth snickerdoodle.
Delaware
Peach Pie
Would you have guessed that peach pie is the official dessert of Delaware? They also claim milk as their state beverage (but they aren’t the only one), which we can all agree pairs nicely with a warm slice of pie.
Florida
Oranges
Would you believe Florida didn’t officially recognize the orange as a state food until 2005? Considering their state flower is the orange blossom and state drink is orange juice, it only made sense that oranges receive their formal title. (Psst…if you’re looking for a sweet treat afterward, here’s our official guide to the best desserts in Florida.)
Georgia
Vidalia Sweet Onion
Vidalia onions are Georgia’s official state vegetable. These internationally renowned sweet onions received their official designation in 1990.
Hawaii
Coconut Muffin
Does SPAM come to mind when you try to guess Hawaii’s state food? It may be a super-common ingredient in Hawaiian dishes, but their only official state food is the coconut muffin.
Idaho
Potatoes
Boil ’em, mash ’em, stick ’em in a stew. We all know how treasured the humble potato is at the American dinner table, and we all have Idaho to thank for a significant portion of U.S. potato production.
Illinois
Corn
Corn is the state grain of Illinois, and who would be surprised? The state generates more than $19 billion annually in the agricultural sector, and more than half of that is thanks to corn production.
Indiana
Sugar Cream Pie
Sugar cream pie? Now we’re talking. Allegedly invented in eastern Indiana back in the early 1800s, this pie is made with sugar, whipped cream and butter. Who wouldn’t love a slice of that?
Iowa
Sweet Potato
Did you know the sweet potato was formally recognized as Iowa’s official state vegetable in 1995? Whether you bake, fry, dice or puree them, most of us can appreciate the delicious and naturally sweet flavor that sweet potatoes provide.
Kansas
Sandhill Plum
Most of us associate Kansas with barbecue, but it actually isn’t an official state food. What is? The Sandhill plum. Declared the official state fruit in 2020, this native fruit is often used to make jellies, pies and wines.
Kentucky
Hot Brown
Kentucky has yet to declare an official state food, but it’s hard to ignore the iconic Hot Brown. Invented in 1926 at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, this tasty, open-faced sandwich is one for the books.
Louisiana
Gumbo
Louisiana’s state cuisine is gumbo. Concocted with vegetables and chicken, seafood or Andouille sausage, this hearty soup is a favorite at dinner tables throughout the state.
Maine
Whoopie Pie
It’s not every day that your state declares the Whoopie Pie as its official state dessert. But that’s precisely what happened in Maine back in 2011.
Maryland
Crab
No one will be surprised to learn that crab is the state food of Maryland. Blue crabs, in particular, are especially popular for everything from seafood pasta and bisque to spring rolls and crab cakes.
Massachusetts
Blueberry Pie
The official state dessert of Massachusetts is blueberry pie, which only makes sense considering the state is one of the top blueberry producers in the country.
Michigan
Brook Trout
Another state, another state fish. The Brook Trout was declared the official state fish of Michigan in 1988, beating out the brown, rainbow and lake trout.
Minnesota
Blueberry Muffin
Blueberry muffins may not be the official state dish of Minnesota, but they are the official state muffin. Funny enough, this request, which was granted in 1988, came from third graders in Carlton.
Mississippi
Butter Cookies
Some states divide official foods into categories. But Mississippi keeps it simple with just one official state food: the mouthwateringly delicious butter cookie.
Missouri
Ice Cream Cone
Do you know the story of the ice cream cone invention? It happened at the St. Louis World’s Fair, so naturally, the ice cream cone is a treasured icon in the great state of Missouri.
Montana
Huckleberries
Montana may be known for sweeping views and wildlife, but their iconic state foods are hard to narrow down. There’s no official designation, but huckleberries are easily among the most delicious and popular choices.
Nebraska
Runza Sandwich
There’s no official state food for Nebraska yet. But many would like to see the Runza sandwich, a soft bread filled with cabbage, beef and onion, take the title.
Nevada
Shrimp Cocktail
Did you know shrimp cocktails have their origins in Las Vegas? While these aren’t the official state food (as of yet, there isn’t one), this would easily be in the running.
New Hampshire
Pumpkins
A sure sign of fall in the northeast, this iconic fruit was officially declared New Hampshire’s official state fruit in 2006.
New Jersey
Northern Highbush Blueberry
This particular variety of blueberry is native to New Jersey and was suggested to the state government by a group of fourth graders. Now, it’s the official state fruit of New Jersey.
New Mexico
Chiles
New Mexico claims to be the chile capital of the world, and you can find them on just about any menu throughout the state. From enchiladas and tamales to huevos rancheros and salsa, this is easily the signature flavor of the state.
New York
Apples
Apples were declared the official state fruit of New York in 1976. The state is the second-leading producer of apples in the country (after Washington), and you can find all manner of pick-your-own orchards throughout its counties.
If you can’t make it to the Empire State, we’ve got you covered with a guide for the best places to go apple picking in each state.
North Carolina
Scuppernong Grape
Scuppernong grapes became the official state fruit of North Carolina in 2001. This bronzy green variety of muscadine grapes was the first wine grape actively cultivated in the country.
North Dakota
Chokecherries
Unfamiliar with the chokecherry? Despite its admittedly odd name, this official state fruit of North Dakota (formally declared in 2007) is commonly found across the state and used in jams, jellies and preserves.
Ohio
Pawpaw
Pawpaws are the largest edible fruit found in North America, which was reason enough for Ohio to declare them their official state fruit in 2009. For those who have never tried them, they taste a bit like a mango but more floral and yeast-like.
Oklahoma
State Meal
Some states have official foods. Oklahoma has an official state meal. Settle in because it’s a full plate: barbecue pork, squash, fried okra, cornbread, biscuits, sausage and gravy, grits, chicken fried steak, corn, black-eyed peas, strawberries and pecan pie.
Oregon
Pear
Oregon grows an impressive number of the country’s pears, which is why it was chosen as the state’s official fruit in 2005. Pear trees are even the bestselling fruit tree crop in the entire state.
Pennsylvania
Chocolate Chip Cookies
The Keystone State hasn’t designated too many official state foods. But next to their official state beverage of milk, they have fittingly chosen to include chocolate chip cookies on their list.
Rhode Island
Calamari
Here’s a fun one. Rhode Island declared calamari as its official state appetizer in 2014 when they wanted to commemorate the state’s booming squid industry.
South Carolina
Barbecue
Barbecue can be a touchy subject, depending on where you’re from. But South Carolina decided to make it their official state picnic cuisine back in 2014.
Looking for more great barbecue in the south? Here’s where to find it!
South Dakota
Kuchen
Kuchen is the German word for cake, and it is the official dessert of South Dakota. Considering the common German ancestry found in many residents of South Dakota, claiming this tasty treat makes perfect sense.
Tennessee
Tomatoes
Residents of Tennessee claimed the tomato as their official state fruit in 2003. They are grown throughout the state and used in everything from hearty sauces to the treasured Bloody Mary. We’ll cheers to that!
Texas
Chili Con Carne
Does anything say Texas like chili con carne? Texas claimed this as its official state food in 1977 and hasn’t turned back since.
Utah
Cherries
Who knew that cherries were the official state fruit of Utah? A longstanding festival and parade dedicated to celebrating these sweet (and sour) fruits is hosted each year.
Vermont
Maple
Have you ever heard of a state flavor? Vermont staked its claim on maple as the official state flavor back in 1993, which makes perfect sense considering the state’s prolific sugar maple industry.
Virginia
Cured Country Ham
Experts across the board agree: Virginia is renowned for cured country ham. You can find this Southern-style ham in meat and threes throughout the state — and country.
Washington
Walla Walla Sweet Onion
Similar to Vidalia onions but grown in the famous Walla Walla Valley of Washington, these were officially declared the state vegetable in 2007. Fun fact: Walla Walla onions have a lower sulfur content than most varieties, which means you’re less likely to catch yourself crying when you cut into one.
West Virginia
Golden Delicious Apple
The Mountain State decided to declare a very specific apple variety as its official state fruit. The Golden Delicious is a sweet and soft variety that is popularly grown in West Virginia and used to make rich and decadent applesauce.
Wisconsin
Kringle
Every state should have an official state pastry, and Wisconsin chose the Kringle, a flaky pastry filled with fruits, nuts — or both.
Wyoming
Bison
Wyoming has yet to declare any official state foods, but bison (especially in the form of a bison burger) is a popular dish across the state and is often associated with Wyoming.
