Proposal to name an Oregon state berry is squished

[February 25, 2009]  SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- Put in a jam by one sour response, Oregon lawmakers are chucking a plan to designate a state berry.

Resolution sponsors and the Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission wanted to honor the marionberry. The sweet blackberry variety was bred at Oregon State University and grows almost exclusively in Marion County.

Other berry interests -- rasp, blue and straw -- assented, but a grower of another blackberry variety objected. The Oregonian newspaper reported the commission then backed down.

Rep. Vicki Berger yanked her resolution. Given stickier economic issues to tackle, she says she's "not going to bat over internal disputes in the berry community."

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Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com/

[Associated Press]

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