Pennsylvania has a state tree, flower, bird, dog and amphibian.
Now, one state legislator is hoping to add a candy to the list of official state symbols.
State Representative Thomas Mehaffie III (R-Dauphin), who represents Hershey, told WHTM Channel 27 he will introduce legislation to name the Hershey’s Kiss as Pennsylvania’s state candy.
He said the idea came from a Newtown Middle School eighth grade class who was working on a social studies civics project. The Bucks County students wanted to pick a state candy and came up with the iconic foil-wrapped Kisses.
Mehaffie told WHTM about 70 million kisses are made each day at the Hershey Company, making the company a big supporter of the the state’s dairy industry. Mehaffie met with the students and has requested they help him with the legislative process.
The Kisses might have some competition for the title.
Pennsylvania is filled with notable candy brands, manufacturers and mom and pop companies. Notably, marshmallow Peeps are made at Just Born Quality Confections in Bethlehem and Wilbur Buds made in Elizabethtown and sold at a Wilbur retail store in Lititz.
Hershey’s Kisses are produced at the company’s West Hershey plant in Derry Township. The candies were introduced in 1907 and now sell in a variety of flavors and sizes.
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