Bill Introduced to Name Rhubarb Official State Vegetable

Rep. Matthew Heilman says he was made aware that North Dakota did not have an official state vegetable by a constituent family of his.

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) – Do you love rhubarb? It could soon be the new state vegetable.

Representative Matthew Heilman of District 7 introduced the bill after being contacted by some of his constituents.

A family homeschooling their kids discovered that North Dakota has no official state vegetable.

So they suggested rhubarb as the best option.

Heilman agreed – and put his bill into motion.

“Rhubarb is a great choice for a state vegetable, and I say this because rhubarb is incredibly resilient and can withstand extreme colds, just like all North Dakotans,” he said in remarks made to the state House.

That led to the bill passing the house by a vote of 81 to 11. It was then heard by the Senate on the afternoon of February 20.