Williston, N.D. Celebrates Their State Fruit

Natalie Wood | 8/20/2010
It`s the fruit that North Dakotans celebrate every year... And what better way to celebrate it, than to eat it?

"we put chokecherry in BBQ sauce, and we do chokecherry mustard and chokecherry horseradish and chokecherry jelly, chokecherry jam, chokecherry syrup, and then what`s new this year is choke cherry rhubarb syrup," Says Eagleson.

Five years ago a group of sixth graders contacted local government officials in an effort to make chokecherries the official state fruit for North Dakota. They were successful in their efforts... And this festival was created in honor of their efforts.

"chokecherry became the our state fruit four years ago in Williston. That`s why the festival is concentrated in this area and that is why we started concentrating on different chokecherry products," Says Schwahn.

The Chokecherry Festival has contests, free food, swimming, and parades. it`s the perfect way to say goodbye to summer as most schools resume next week... And kids are eating-up their last days of freedom.

"I usually like to walk around and buy some of their chokecherry jelly and syrup," Says Hove.

"Buy chokecherry jelly, chokecherry syrup, and popcorn," Says Slater.

North Dakotans are enjoying their relatively new state fruit for yet another year.

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