My wife and I argued over NJ’s state fruit — we were both right

Key points

• Fourth graders from Brick successfully petitioned the New Jersey statehouse and won official recognition
• New Jersey's state symbols have an interesting and sometimes overlapping history
• Youth activism in the state has led to official changes in state designations
• The dispute over New Jersey's state fruit reveals quirks in how state symbols are established
• New Jersey residents may not realize their state has multiple official fruits

FAQ

Does New Jersey really have two state fruits?

Yes. New Jersey has two official state fruits, which creates an unusual situation among U.S. states. This happened because of separate legislative actions at different times, including efforts by youth activists like the fourth graders from Brick.

How did fourth graders from Brick change New Jersey law?

A group of fourth graders from Brick walked into the statehouse with a petition and successfully convinced lawmakers to recognize a state symbol. Their effort demonstrates how citizen engagement, even from young people, can influence official state designations.

Why would a state have competing state symbols?

States sometimes end up with multiple official symbols when different groups petition for recognition at different times, and lawmakers approve both designations without consolidating them into a single official symbol.