Yogurt declared New York's official state snack

After the apple and apple muffin, residents of New York State can now count yogurt as an official state food.

On Wednesday, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill pronouncing the humble dairy product the state’s official snack food in a move meant to recognize the industry’s importance to New York’s economy: The state has become the nation’s top yogurt producer, thanks in part to the soaring popularity of Greek-style yogurt.

"Designating yogurt as the official state snack will continue to raise public awareness of the economic and health benefits of yogurt and the dairy industry," said the governor in a released statement.

Last year, the state churned out 16 percent of the country’s total yogurt production.

New York also recognizes the apple as the official state fruit, the apple muffin as its official state muffin and milk as the official state beverage.

Elsewhere in the US, South Carolina’s official state snack is boiled peanuts; Texas has tortilla chips and salsa: Illinois’s is popcorn; and Jell-O finds a home in Utah.