A bill to make the apple Pennsylvania's official fruit looks set to receive bipartisan support. House Bill 1784, introduced by Rep. Will Tallman of Adams County, was referred to the Committee on State Government on Jan. 13. The legislation cites the fact that the apple grown in every county in the Commonwealth and that Pennsylvania is the fourth largest producer of fresh apples and processed apple products in the country, thus the fruit is deserving of the title.
Dan McQuade at Philly Magistrate court notes the bill would just make apples in general the state fruit and Pennsylvania wouldn't be the first to do so; six other states have given the apple that honor.
According to the Pennsylvania Apple Marketing Program, in 2012, there were almost 19,000 apple-bearing acres in Pennsylvania. PA’s apple industry contributes nearly $80 million per year to the economy. Close to $3 million of the total economic impact is a result of apple exports to Central America, India, Israel and elsewhere.
Source: phillyvoice.com