WENATCHEE - Washington has an official state amphibian, an official state dance and even an official state tartan (a Scottish plaid design). So why not a state candy?

Local state Rep. Mike Armstrong plans to introduce a bill this upcoming legislative session to designate Aplets & Cotlets, manufactured in Cashmere, as Washington's official confectionery.

"I love the things," Armstrong said, recounting a sweet memory of touring the plant when he was a kid and getting a free sample at the end. "We just thought it was amazing that you'd get free candy. ... They just taste so good."

Aplets are powdered-sugar-covered cubes with apple-gelatin insides infused with walnuts. Cotlets have apricot-gelatin innards. They've been made by Liberty Orchards in Cashmere since 1920.

Armstrong said, "It's just a great way to recognize a great industry," referring to the fruit industry.

The bill reads in part: "The tree fruit industry is a vital part of the state's economy; Aplets & Cotlets are candies made in Washington using apples and apricots grown in Washington state; Aplets & Cotlets ... identify Washington state to consumers worldwide."

Another Washington-made candy is known the world over. That's Almond Roca, a log-shaped, chocolate-almond-toffee concoction manufactured in Tacoma since 1923 by Brown and Haley.

When Armstrong floated an "Aplets & Cotlets" bill several years ago, it drew a bitter reaction from Almond Roca fans.

"We got a lot of people up in arms," Armstrong said. He argues Aplets & Cotlets' connection to the fruit industry makes it a more fitting official candy than Almond Roca.

The previous bill died before making it to the floor, as did one submitted in 2001 to name Almond Roca the official state candy. A group of high school civics students in Snohomish convinced a state representative to submit the bill. Students in Centralia recently lobbied Armstrong to put forward the Aplets & Cotlets legislation.

While no other state designates a brand-name product, several do have official sweets, with Massachusetts leading the way. They have a state cookie, the chocolate chip, which was first made at the Toll House Inn in that state in 1930. They also have a state donut (Boston creme), and a state dessert (Boston creme pie). Missouri's official dessert is the ice cream cone, while Florida's official pie is Key lime.

Liberty Orchards President Greg Taylor could not be reached for comment. In 2001, when the Almond Roca bill was on the table, he said, "I love Almond Roca. I think it's a great candy. But if I have to pick the state candy it's Aplets & Cotlets, not Almond Roca. ... People think of Aplets & Cotlets being uniquely identified with Washington state. A lot people are not aware Almond Roca is made in the Northwest."

An Almond Roca spokesman was not available for comment Friday.

In a session that promises to be full of head-butting over spending cuts, Armstrong said his colleagues might appreciate being able to take up a non-budget issue.

The Legislature convenes Jan. 12.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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