With the snow up to the windows, how many of you have a craving for the famous Down East Maine Whoopie Pie...It has no match in all the New England States. I'm sure you will agree, it really should be recognized by our State & Local Government as a true Maine treasure.
To recognize the humble Whoopie Pie the SPS Museum will host pie day--June 26th Sunday and we will have a Pie Jammm with famous musicians from all over the State. The delectable Whoopie will be numerous, consumed, honored, revered, serenaded and coddled on this day in June and into perpetuity.
Who thought this would be such a big deal? Well it seems to be...if you haven't written to the committee, please do (email below) and please ask all your friends to write. Please support LD 71, the act to make the Whoopie Pie the official Maine dessert! Some info below.
LD 71
An Act to Designate the Whoopie Pie as the State Dessert
Why the Whoopie Pie Should be the Maine State Dessert
The Whoopie Pie is unique to Maine and is not a seasonal item. Let’s claim our rightful heritage before another state makes the whoopie pie their state dessert. Labadie’s Bakery in Lewiston, a third generation bakery, has been making the whoopie pie since 1925.
The Whoopie Pie is the most popular dessert sold and is available throughout the state—from supermarkets and convenience stores to the concession stand at the Red Claws professional basketball games in Portland. The whoopie pie has a strong fan base. Maine Stuff! on Facebook have over 90,000 virtual gifts of whoopie pies sent to friends. Visit the two Facebook pages, Whoopie Pies and the Maine Whoopie Pie, and find over 30,000 fans voicing their support of the venerable whoopie pie.
Build Pride in our state. Let’s have the whoopie pie join Moxie, our state soft drink, and the Maine wild blueberry, designated in 1991 as our state berry, to build pride in our state’s wonderful food stuffs, which may lead to other food designations such as a state pie, cake, donut, etc.
Desserts are here to stay. Like other desserts, the whoopie pie should be fun and enjoyed in moderation. You can buy whoopie pies gluten- and sugar-free. They also make a blueberry whoopie pie for those who want their antioxidants.
Whoopie Pie Day in Maine. The Governor of the state of Maine proclaimed June 26, 2010 as Whoopie Pie Day to focus on those niches that make Maine so special. Capitalizing on the current interest in the whoopie pie is one way of promoting the excellence of this Maine product. Over 3500 people attended the Whoopie Pie festival held that day.
Ø Economic development at its finest. The designation will raise awareness and help our small businesses who sell whoopie pies. There are tremendous growth potential and wonderful marketing opportunities. Many bakers purchase Maine products e.g. eggs, butter, milk, sea salt, blueberries for their ingredients.
Ø Helps promote tourism. The designation builds pride, raises the awareness and capitalizes on Maine’s unique food stuffs—a “little taste of Maine.” News worthy all over the USA by designating the whoopie pie as Maine’s state dessert. People respond to Made in Maine products. Tourists are drawn here because of our uniqueness.
Ø National recognition touts culinary appeal. According to a culinary catalog (William Sonoma) the whoopie pie is “pure edible nostalgia.” The New York Times in March 2009 wrote that “the whoopie pie is having its moment…The whoopie pie would probably be Maine’s state dessert, if it had one.” The torch is being passed from the cupcake to the whoopie pie according to Danielle Freeman, a New York food critic. Cupcakes are passé.
There are just a lot of things that work for the whoopie pie versus other desserts.
Ø Support LD 71. Show your support for our venerable Maine Whoopie Pie.
Amos E. Orcutt, President
Maine Whoopie Pie Association
orcuttal@roadrunner.com
207.945.4668
The work session hasn’t been scheduled but will either be on a Monday or Wednesday.
Emails should go to:
US mail should go to:
Committee on State & Local Government
c/o Legislative Information
100 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
State House Message Phone:
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