MORTON, Ill. — As harvesting and canning of pumpkins stays in high gear through November, a state lawmaker believes it’s time the highly prized seasonal vegetable receives a bit of official recognition.

State Rep. Keith Sommer, a Republican from the Tazewell County community of Morton – which proclaims itself the Pumpkin Capital of the World – introduced legislation that would make pumpkin pie the official state pie of Illinois. He introduced the bill shortly before Morton’s annual pumpkin festival last month, which drew thousands of visitors to the small north-central Illinois town of about 16,000.

“I recognize we have much more serious business to do as a state, but in celebration of the festival, I thought it was appropriate,” said Sommer, who added he enjoys pumpkin as well as other pies. “I like pie in general.”

This year is perhaps one of the best in which to introduce such legislation as it relates to this fall’s harvest, which could be one of the best ever, said longtime grower John Ackerman. Ackerman Farms sits in the heart of processing pumpkin land and Libby’s main pumpkin operations.

Libby’s, owned by Nestle USA, packs an estimated 90 percent of the canned pumpkin consumed in the United States. The plant packs about 80 percent of canned pumpkin worldwide, according to Steve Beuttel, operations manager for Libby’s cannery.

Illinois is by far the largest pumpkin-producing state, harvesting about 650 million pounds of mostly processing pumpkins per year. “We’re looking pretty good this year,” Ackerman said. “The ornamentals even have fared well, despite the wetter weather.”

Cooler conditions generally since planting also has helped pumpkin growth – and make no mistake, pumpkins are big business for Illinois growers and Libby’s.

In recognizing pumpkins as part of a proclamation before last month’s festival, Gov. Pat Quinn noted they are an approximate $33 million industry in Illinois. Libby’s provides most of the seeds used to grow pumpkins each year, enlisting growers on several thousand acres in a 10-county region surrounding Morton.

State lawmakers codified the Goldrush apple as the official state fruit in 2007, but Illinois does not yet have an official state pie, and Ackerman said no other pie choice makes sense: “It’s the only reasonable choice for the No. 1 pumpkin growing state in the nation.”

Florida’s official pie is key lime. Vermont’s top pie is apple, while Maine’s official pie is blueberry. Massachusetts honors the Boston Cream pie and Oklahoma observes the pecan pie as its official dessert.