The Pueblo Chieftain reported Saturday that state Senator Larry Crowder, R-Alamosa, had entered the “juicy fruit argument” at the State Capitol.

Apparently, Colorado lawmakers are pushing a bill that would name the Palisade peach as Colorado’s official state fruit, but Crowder said that he would attempt to add Rocky Ford cantaloupe into HB1304, which was introduced in the House by Rep. Angela Williams, R-Denver.

Clearly a well-read person, Crowder told the Chieftain that in researching the Rocky Ford cantaloupe and Palisade peach, he has found that they have a very comparable history in the state.  Hmm, I must have missed where the Colorado Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had linked peaches to 147 ill with 33 dead from Listeria, but perhaps I missed something?

Crowder also told the Chieftain:  “Where is it written where you can’t have two state fruits?”  My guess is that it is written in the same place that Crowder looked when he ignored Colorado cantaloupe’s recent history of killing people.

I did notice that Colorado does not have a state nut.  I nominate state Senator Larry Crowder.