by Liz Daube
Staff Writer
What makes you think of Florida? Orange juice, palm trees, alligators — what about key lime pie? The sunshine state has over 30 official state symbols, and a bill working its way through the legislature aims to add the tart-yet-sweet dessert to the mix.
The Florida Senate version of the bill, which would designate key lime pie as the official state pie, gained ground Wednesday when it passed 38-1.
State Sen. Lee Constantine of Altamonte Springs cast the lone vote against the bill that would also make Ocala limestone the state rock, calcite the state mineral and the Eocene Heart Urchin the state fossil. Constantine couldn’t be reached for comment, but pecan pie supporters have historically been the biggest opponents of the key lime pie agenda.
Scott Welch, executive chef at Seven Bridges Grille and Brewery, makes a key lime dessert that’s been voted best key lime pie by Folio Weekly (technically, however, Welch’s dessert is key lime cheesecake). He said he’s excited that the unusual fruit is getting some recognition.
“It’s our most popular dessert,” said Welch. “It (key lime flavor) is different from just normal limes. It’s tart, but it has a sweetness. It’s very unique to this area. I think something like that can be more out in the public eye.”
Key lime enthusiasts can’t claim victory quite yet, though. The bill still has to pass through the House of Representatives. And according to Bruce Graetz, a curator at the Museum of Florida History in Tallahassee, the pie controversy has been tossed about in the state legislature before — and defeated.
Legislators have often found room on their plates for symbol debates, even though issues of education, health care and the environment may consume most of their time.
“Symbols go back probably further than recorded history,” said Graetz, adding that Florida’s earliest symbol was the orange blossom, made official in 1909.
Another curator at the museum, Charles McNeil, said symbols serve a variety of purposes, from advertising to education.
“It helps familiarize people with your state,” said McNeil. “That helps with business and tourism.”
He said states use symbols much like advertisers use brands. So when consumers think of McDonald’s, they think of golden arches. Likewise, McNeil said, “Every time someone thinks of Florida, they think of juicy oranges.”
Other symbols come to mind as well, he added, and not all of them are official. The legislative process may hinder some symbols from making it onto the official list. For example, Mickey Mouse may remind the public of Florida’s Disney theme parks. Yet he is not the official cartoon mouse of Florida — not yet, at least.
Information about many of the official state symbols is included in “State of Florida Heritage and Emblems,” a brochure that Graetz edits. He said approximately 15,000 brochures are distributed annually, most of which go to schools. Florida school children have participated in symbol selection, as well — they elected the Florida panther to state mammal status in 1982.
The sponsors of the key lime pie designation bills could not be reached for comment. Symbol controversies like the pie bill may appear heated, but Graetz said the issue isn’t as serious as one might think.
“It’s considered a light-hearted portion (of the legislation),” said Graetz. “In the larger picture, it’s a way for them (legislators) to do something fun.”
There are many other official state designations. Some are obvious and make sense. Others may leave you scratching your head.
Here’s a list with the state’s explanations:
• tree — (1) The sabal palmetto palm, which is also known as the cabbage palm, and sometimes as the cabbage palmetto, a tree native to Florida. (2) Said state tree being now extensively used for commercial purposes, the provisions of this section shall not be construed to limit in any manner said use thereof in business, industry, commerce, for food, or for any other commercial purposes.
• fruit — The orange (Citrus sinensis and hybrids thereof).
• beverage — The juice obtained from mature oranges of the species Citrus sinensis and hybrids thereof.
• citrus archive — The Florida Citrus Archives, dedicated to Thomas B. Mack and located at Florida Southern College in Lakeland.
• shell — The horse conch, which is also known as Pleuroploca gigantea, and sometimes as the giant band shell, a shell native to the marine waters surrounding the State of Florida.
• stone — Agatized coral, a chalcedony pseudomorph after coral, appearing as limestone geodes lined with botryoidal agate or quartz crystals and drusy quartz fingers, indigenous to Florida.
• gem — The moonstone, a transparent or translucent feldspar of pearly or opaline luster.
• wildflower — The Coreopsis as species of this genus are found throughout the state and are used extensively in roadside plantings and highway beautification.
• animal — The Florida panther.
• freshwater fish — The Florida largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides floridanus).
• saltwater fish — The Atlantic sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus).
• marine mammal and state saltwater mammal — (1) The manatee, also commonly known as the sea cow. (2) The porpoise, also commonly known as the dolphin.
• butterfly — The Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charitonius).
• reptile — The American alligtor.
• air fair — The Central Florida Air Fair .
• rodeo — The Silver Spurs Rodeo, a world class sporting event and the largest rodeo east of the Mississippi River, which is held biennially in Osceola County for top professional cowboys and cowgirls to compete for a chance to be one of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s world champions.
• festival — The festival “Calle Ocho-Open House 8,” a Florida historical festival presented annually by the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana and the Hispanic citizens of Dade County.
• moving image center and archive — The Louis Wolfson II Media History Center, Inc., in Miami.
• litter control symbol — The official Keep Florida Beautiful, Incorporated, service mark, as registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
• State pageant — The pageant “Indian River,” a Florida historical pageant presented annually by the citizens of Brevard County.
• opera program — The Greater Miami Opera Association; the Orlando Opera Company, Incorporated; and the Florida State University School of Music, representing the professional and academic communities in the field of opera.
• renaissance festival — The Italian Renaissance Festival presented at Vizcaya by Renaissance Historical Society of Florida, Inc., a not-for-profit educational corporation, during the third week in March of each year.
• railroad museums — (1) Prior to representing to the general public that it is a Florida state railroad museum, a railroad museum must be authorized under subsection (2) and meet the following standards and criteria:
(a) The stated purpose of the railroad museum shall be to preserve railroad history and historical railroad memorabilia, including, but not limited to, railroad locomotives and rolling stock.
(b) The railroad museum shall be devoted primarily to the history of railroads and railroading.
(c) The railroad museum shall be open to the general public, and memberships shall be offered to the general public regardless of race, color, creed, or national origin.
(d) The railroad museum shall be a recipient of a s. 501(c)(3) Internal Revenue Service designation.
(2) The following railroad museums are entitled to designation as provided in subsection (1) upon meeting the standards and criteria contained in that subsection: (a) The Orange Blossom Special Railroad Museum, West Palm Beach. (b) The Gold Coast Railroad Museum, Inc., and Gold Coast Railroad, Inc. (c) The Florida Gulf Coast Railroad Museum, Inc., Tampa.
• transportation museum — The Florida Museum of Transportation and History, located in Fernandina Beach.
• soil — Myakka fine sand (sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Aeric Haplaquods).
• fiddle contest — The fiddle contest held annually by the Florida State Fiddlers’ Association in cooperation with the Department of State at the Stephen Foster State Folk Culture Center, White Springs, Fla.
• band — The St. Johns River City Band in Jacksonville.
• Sports Hall of Fame — The Florida Sports Hall of Fame.