Key Lime Pie Vs. Strawberry Shortcake

Pam strikes a pose with Kermit Carpenter outside his Key West Lime Shop. He's been making all things key lime for 26 years. (NPBL Photo)

In these trying times, our elected leaders have plenty to concern themselves with. And among those weighty issues -- at least in Florida -- is what will be named the official state dessert. No, really.

Since 2006, the official State Dessert of Florida is Key Lime Pie. Now Senator Danny Burgess, who represents the heart of the strawberry growing region, has introduced a bill to recognize Strawberry Shortcake as the new official dessert of the Sunshine State.

As you might expect, the folks in Key West haven't taken this affront kindly, and a group known as the Conch Republic  Key Lime Council has created a Change.org petition to keep key lime pie as the official state dessert.

Quoting from the petition:

"WHEREAS: Key Lime Pie is a native Floridian dessert that originated in the Florida Keys, and Strawberry Shortcake is a non-native dessert that originated in Europe.

"WHEREAS: Key Lime Pie was designated the Official State Pie of Florida in 2006 and has served proudly as the de facto State Dessert for 16 years, and Strawberry Shortcake has never received a state designation."

For me, it's a no-brainer. While I enjoy them both, Key Lime Pie is way more Florida than Strawberry Shortcake. In Pam's "Gigi in the 561" podcast, she entertains a possible solution: Instead of designating one dessert, have an official pie as well as an official cake.

Whatever, can we just get on with the really important stuff, like whether Tampa should rename their football stadium after Tom Brady? I can already see the petitions that would bring out.

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