Skip to main content

Great Eats! Making It Official

The Setting the Texas Table exhibit logo showing a plate with a fork, knife and spoon on top of a red outline of Texas

Nothing says, “Welcome,” like a heaping serving of peach cobbler. States often proclaim foods as “official” to promote a local product and state industries. Peaches in Texas are a familiar sight, especially at stands along the roads of Gillespie County in the Hill Country surrounding Fredericksburg.

Other official Texas foods include chili (state dish), pumpkin (squash), pecan pie (pie), sweet onion (vegetable), pan de campo (bread) and chips and salsa (snack).

Interest groups, or organizations of people and enterprises, influence policy and are often at the forefront of promoting industries, such as Texas food production. These groups work to shape the laws and regulations which govern and sustain economic industries of the state. Helping to establish the “official” Texas food in any category is one way to increase awareness of a product and celebrate a state tradition.

 

Exhibit Video

Watermelon  - Motion Picture, video, and sound recordings, Texas Department of Agriculture Records.
1994/099-03-12

Exhibit Items

An opened book with a blank page on the left and the beginning of the resolution on the right page. House Concurrent Resolution 102, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013. Secretary of State legislative bills and resolutions filed (General and special laws), Volume 2015/110-38An opened book with a blank page on the left and the middle of the resolution on the right page. House Concurrent Resolution 102, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013. Secretary of State legislative bills and resolutions filed (General and special laws), Volume 2015/110-38An opened book with a blank page on the left and the end of the resolution on the right page. House Concurrent Resolution 102, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013. Secretary of State legislative bills and resolutions filed (General and special laws), Volume 2015/110-38House Concurrent Resolution 102, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013. Secretary of State legislative bills and resolutions filed (General and special laws), Volume 2015/110-38.

This resolution designated peach cobbler as the official cobbler of Texas, calling it “one of the distinctive flavors of the Lone Star State.” Click or tap on thumbnails for larger images.

 

The brochure unfolded on yellow paper and black text with a photo of peaches on the cover. Texas peaches brochure, 1982. Texas Department of Agriculture records, Box 2011/226The middle part of the brochure unfolded on yellow paper with black text. Texas peaches brochure, 1982. Texas Department of Agriculture records, Box 2011/226Texas peaches brochure, 1982. Texas Department of Agriculture records, Box 2011/226.

This brochure produced by the Department of Agriculture promotes the Texas peach industry by sharing sweet and savory peach recipes and encouraging consumers to buy Texas peaches. Click or tap on thumbnail for larger image.




 

A frayed and scuffed brown front cover with the light text of Texas Cookbook. Brandy peaches recipe from Ladies’ Association of the First Presbyterian Church of Houston, Texas. The Texas Cook Book: A Thorough Treatise on the Art of Cookery. The Association, 1883. TSLAC-Main Collection, 641.5 L124 1883The book opened up to two pages showing various recipes. Image 2. Brandy peaches recipe from Ladies’ Association of the First Presbyterian Church of Houston, Texas. The Texas Cook Book: A Thorough Treatise on the Art of Cookery. The Association, 1883. TSLAC-Main Collection, 641.5 L124 1883The book opened up to two pages showing the beginning of the brandy peaches recipe. Image 3. Brandy peaches recipe from Ladies’ Association of the First Presbyterian Church of Houston, Texas. The Texas Cook Book: A Thorough Treatise on the Art of Cookery. The Association, 1883. TSLAC-Main Collection, 641.5 L124 1883The book opened up to two pages showing more of the brandy peaches recipe. Image 4. Brandy peaches recipe from Ladies’ Association of the First Presbyterian Church of Houston, Texas. The Texas Cook Book: A Thorough Treatise on the Art of Cookery. The Association, 1883. TSLAC-Main Collection, 641.5 L124 1883The book opened up to two pages showing the end of the brandy peaches recipe. Image 5. Brandy peaches recipe from Ladies’ Association of the First Presbyterian Church of Houston, Texas. The Texas Cook Book: A Thorough Treatise on the Art of Cookery. The Association, 1883. TSLAC-Main Collection, 641.5 L124 1883Brandy peaches recipe from Ladies’ Association of the First Presbyterian Church of Houston, Texas. The Texas Cook Book: A Thorough Treatise on the Art of Cookery. The Association, 1883. TSLAC-Main Collection, 641.5 L124 1883.

Edited by the Ladies’ Association of the First Presbyterian Church of Houston, The Texas Cookbook claims to be the first cookbook focused on Texas cooking, with recipes “suited to the requirements of our climate.” It includes peach recipes such as peach cobbler, brandy peaches, and peach sweet pickles.

Click or tap on thumbnail for larger image.


 

A photograph of a boy in a cowboy had and a girl in a bonnet sitting down eating peaches with a horse behind them. Peach Jamboree, Stonewall, TX, about 1960s-1970s. Transparencies, Texas Tourist Development Agency audiovisual material, Call number 1991/077-12, Image 1991/077-205-04 (digital facsimile)Peach Jamboree, Stonewall, TX, about 1960s-1970s. Transparencies, Texas Tourist Development Agency audiovisual material, Call number 1991/077-12, Image 1991/077-205-04 (digital facsimile).

The Texas Tourist Development Agency promoted tourism in the state. This image may have been intended for an advertising campaign for the Stonewall Peach Jamboree, an annual local celebration of the peach crop.

 Click or tap on thumbnail for larger image.

 

 

 

A photograph of a man and woman sitting on boxes of peaches as they are being pulled by a tractor. Peaches, Fredericksburg, 1985. Crops, produce and viticulture, Texas agriculture, Texas Department of Agriculture slide collection, Images 2011/139-3-001, 059 and 035 (digital facsimile)A photograph of workers in a factory putting peaches into boxes. A photograph of a man and woman sitting on boxes of peaches as they are being pulled by a tractor. Peaches, Fredericksburg, 1985. Crops, produce and viticulture, Texas agriculture, Texas Department of Agriculture slide collection, Images 2011/139-3-001, 059 and 035 (digital facsimile)A photograph of peaches on the branches of a peach tree. A photograph of workers in a factory putting peaches into boxes. A photograph of a man and woman sitting on boxes of peaches as they are being pulled by a tractor. Peaches, Fredericksburg, 1985. Crops, produce and viticulture, Texas agriculture, Texas Department of Agriculture slide collection, Images 2011/139-3-001, 059 and 035 (digital facsimile)Peaches, Fredericksburg, 1985. Crops, produce and viticulture, Texas agriculture, Texas Department of Agriculture slide collection, Images 2011/139-3-001, 059 and 035 (digital facsimile).

The Department of Agriculture slide collection is a visual record of the agency’s regulatory and marketing responsibilities. These images show the peach harvest at the Whitworth Peach Orchard and the peach processing facility at Fredericksburg Orchards. Click or tap on thumbnails for larger images.
 

 

A photograph of four peach queen contestants wearing tiaras and sashes. Gillespie County Peach Queen, 1981. Fairs and festivals, Texas life and culture, Texas Department of Agriculture slide collection, Image 2011/139-21-19Gillespie County Peach Queen, 1981. Fairs and festivals, Texas life and culture, Texas Department of Agriculture slide collection, Image 2011/139-21-19.

Click or tap on thumbnail for larger image.

 

 

 

A photograph of two women wearing tiaras and waving on top of a fload in a parade. Stonewall Peach Festival, 1985. Crops, produce and viticulture, Texas agriculture, Texas Department of Agriculture slide collection, Image 2011/139-4-009Stonewall Peach Festival, 1985. Crops, produce and viticulture, Texas agriculture, Texas Department of Agriculture slide collection, Image 2011/139-4-009.

Click or tap on thumbnail for larger image.

 

 

 Next - Land and Cattle ->

Setting the Texas Table Exhibit Pages:

Setting the Texas Table | Cooking Up Texas | The Lean Table | Farm to Market |
Great Eats! Making It Official | Land And Cattle | Celebrating the Taste of Texas |

 

Top of page

Lobby Exhibits Home



Page last modified: August 31, 2022