With thousands of acres of strawberries grown each year in the Plant City area, state Rep. Lawrence McClure, R-Dover, wants to designate strawberry shortcake as Florida’s state dessert.
McClure, whose district includes Plant City, filed a bill (HB 567) on Wednesday that seeks approval of the designation during the 2022 legislative session.
The bill, in part, points to the Florida Strawberry Festival held each year in the area.
“Approximately 200,000 strawberry shortcakes, the festival's signature dessert, are served each year at the Florida Strawberry Festival, making it a staple among festival attendees,” the bill said.
McClure’s bill noted the dessert consists of “a base of shortcake, which resembles a biscuit with a touch of cake, a layer of sweet, sliced strawberries, and a healthy dollop of whipped cream.”
Florida has a range of state symbols, including key lime pie, which has been the state pie since 2006. Others include a beverage, orange juice, and an official honey, Tupelo honey.
A separate proposal (SCR 324) for the 2022 session has sparked a debate about rescinding the designation of the mockingbird as the state bird. The 2022 session will start in January.
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