Section 1-2-42 State Vegetable.

(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares the following: (1) With the passing of the Bicentennial Celebration of Alabama, it has become known that Alabama lacks an official state vegetable. (2) In 2015, the Alabama Farmers Federation reported that the great State of Alabama ranks sixth among the nation in the production of sweet potatoes; the crop brings an estimated $9 million annually to the state, making it one of Alabama’s main crops. (3) The sandy loam soil of the state allows sweet potatoes to grow quickly and freely, enabling Alabama to produce some of the largest and tastiest sweet potatoes in the country. (4) The sweet potato has long been an Alabama staple; delicious sweet potato dishes have been listed in prominent media outlets such as the Food Network as a “top food to eat in Alabama” and in Southern Living Magazine as a Southern holiday tradition. (5) In light of the above, this body can conjure no better vegetable to represent Alabama, its farmers, and its culinary culture. (6) This body thanks Kristin Smith of Harvest, Alabama, and her homeschool class for their excellent proposal on behalf of the sweet potato which led to this designation. (b) The sweet potato is the official state vegetable of Alabama.