I’m a big fan of Honeycrisp apples.

Developed right here in Carver County at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the Honeycrisp was recently named our state apple, joining the Lady Slipper as the state flower, Lake Superior agate as the state rock and the Norway pine as the state tree.

As the name suggests, chunks of the slightly tart apple snap off crisply with each bite. It has great staying power in the fridge and it grows in our Nordic climate. It’s a good apple.

But when it comes to paying for the apples – holy cow! (By the way, our official state drink is milk.)

I recently purchased Honeycrisp apples at a local grocery store for $2.49 a pound, or about $1.22 per apple. At another grocery store, it was a bit cheaper at $1.99 a pound. However, bags of other apple varieties were selling at $1 per pound.

It might be cheaper to develop a gambling addiction. Should I buy a couple pull-tabs or a Honeycrisp apple? (Pull-tabs, by the way, should definitely be our official state form of gambling.)

I realize the Honeycrisp was introduced only a few decades ago, so supply may not have reached demand, but that’s still pretty steep.

To add insult to pocketbook injury, the apples I initially purchased were grown in Michigan. Michigan? Our state apple is grown in Michigan?!

Next I’ll find out that our official state fish, walleye, is being imported from Iowa fisheries, or that our official state grain, wild rice, is being imported from Wisconsin.