In an effort to celebrate Alaska’s historic and still-evolving agricultural scene, state lawmakers are considering a proposal to designated the giant green cabbage as the official state vegetable.
Sponsored by Republican Minority Leader DeLena Johnson (R-Palmer), House Bill 202 highlights the fact that farming began in Alaska in the 1870’s and has grown ever since with expansion into the Tanana Valley in the 1920’s and the arrival of 203 colony farming families in Palmer in 1935.
Alaska now produces over $91 million agricultural products from nearly 1,200 farms, most of which are family owned.
Over decades, the giant green cabbage has become emblematic of Alaska’s agricultural community. In 2012, Palmer resident Scott Robb set the current Guinness World Record for the largest green cabbage ever grown – weighing in at 138.25 pounds during an Alaska State Fair competition. Recent fairs have seen winners in the 80-100-plus pound range, but none have surpassed the 2012 behemoth.
Last year, the Alaska State Fair Board of Directors sent a letter to lawmakers, asking them to support the cabbage as the state veggie, while suggesting that the giant pumpkin become Alaska official state fruit.
“Since its inception in 1936, the Fair has served as a proud showcase for Alaska-grown produce and a central gathering place for farmers, growers, and residents across our diverse regions,” the fair board noted. “The giant cabbage has become a symbol of agricultural achievement in Alaska.”
It added that the giant pumpkin has become a crowd favorite and a visual embodiment of Alaska’s agricultural abundance.
The Alaska state record for the largest pumpkin is 2,147 pounds, set in 2022 at the Alaska State Fair by Anchorage grower Dale Marshall.
The cabbage bill is currently in the House State Affairs Committee, which is set to hear testimony on the legislation on Feb. 5.
