The State Debate: Key Lime vs. Pecan Pie

By Charlene Shirk First Coast News

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The Florida State Legislature spent its first full day in session Wednesday.

Lawmakers are debating education, the economy and the state pie.

It's become quite the fight.

Some believe Key Lime best represents Florida, but there is fierce opposition from pecan growers who want pecan pie to take the honor.

Larry and Chuck have eaten lunch together for 20 years. They talk football, religion and politics.

But they've never talked about pie.

"Way down the list. I think some of the issues that people are more concerned with as far as the economy and senior citizens and education rank far ahead of that."

But making news along with education and the economy is the burning issue of the State Pie.

We consulted Worman's Bakery waitress Lori Moum. We considered her to be a kind of expert in what people prefer.

Pecan or the tart taste of Key Lime.

"We always have Pecan Pie I don't think we ran out of pecan but we run out of Key Lime."

But we wanted to double check our sources, so we took our pies to the street. We started with security guard Lenora Baldwin.

She first tasted the pecan.

"I don't like the pecan. You like the Key Lime? I like the Key Lime better."

But then we found a fellow lawmaker, Council Woman Suzanne Jenkins. Where did she weigh in on this state debate?

"I'm going to support my locals here who have pecan trees and grow them," said Jenkins. "So if you are asking me to vote I would vote for the pecan."

A true politician even down to her pie.

The house passed a resolution a few years ago recognizing key lime pie as an "important symbol" of Florida.

No word on when they will vote on the "Official Pie."

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