Bill seeks to name giant cabbage Alaska’s state vegetable

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Thirteen years ago, Scott Robb from Palmer set a world record with a 138-pound cabbage at the Alaska State Fair. Subsequently, Palmer’s visitor center erected a statue celebrating this and other large vegetables from the area.

Currently, a state legislator from Palmer is proposing to designate Alaska’s giant cabbages as the official state vegetable. If approved by the House, Senate, and Governor Mike Dunleavy, House Bill 202 would declare “Giant cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) is the official vegetable of the state.”

Rep. DeLena Johnson, R-Palmer, has introduced this proposal for the third time, having done so in 2020 and 2022 without a hearing, despite bipartisan support. Johnson stated, “Just like you have a state salmon, it’s a fun fact and a way to point out something unique about Alaska.” She emphasized the bill’s potential to enhance tourism and economic development.

Richard Estelle from the Palmer Visitor Center and Museum, who frequently answers vegetable-related inquiries from tourists, suggested the bill to Johnson. Estelle, whose background is in vegetable farming, noted that other states like New Mexico and Idaho have official vegetables, underscoring the symbolic importance for Alaska’s agriculture industry.

Estelle considered various options before settling on the world-record cabbage, which remains a highlight at the Alaska State Fair. Johnson remarked, “The cabbage was the first one that became the big icon. And it’s the iconic vegetable at the Alaska State Fair.”

She added, “There’s never been any other place in the country that’s ever surpassed (the world record), and we will hold the record forever.”

Source: Alaska Public Media

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