TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference at the Florida Strawberry Festival on Monday where he signed a bill that made strawberry shortcake Florida’s official state dessert.
The designation of the state dessert is an effort to promote the state’s $1 billion strawberry industry which produces 75 percent of the winter strawberry crop in the United States.
“Signing this bill at the Strawberry Festival is one way that we are supporting our Florida strawberry farmers and is a tribute to the more than 10,000 acres of strawberries that are grown in the greater Plant City area,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.
“As a fifth generation Floridian and a native of Plant City, I am delighted and proud that our Governor and the Legislature are making Strawberry Shortcake the official state dessert,” said Attorney General Ashley Moody. “Plant City grows more than three-quarters of the country’s winter strawberries that help make this delicious dessert and support Florida’s economy. I hope everyone tries a bite of Strawberry Shortcake in celebration.”
Approximately 200,000 strawberry shortcakes are served at the Florida Strawberry Festival every year.