CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – Pumpkins have a friendly, happy image and one even served as a coach taking Cinderella to the ball, fourth grader Logan Symonds told lawmakers Thursday as she and her classmates lobbied to get the pumpkin named as the state fruit.

But the youngsters from Kathy Frick’s class at Wells Memorial Elementary School in Harrisville faced some tough opposition from apple supporters.

“They’re just big and orange and after Halloween they rot,” argued Chuck Souther, owner of Apple Hill Farm in Concord, intentionally giving the youngsters a taste of debate. Apple trees are beautiful throughout the year, he added. Besides, apple pies outsell pumpkin pies at his farm 30:1.

Fourth grader Johnny Silk may have had the winning response when he noted that apples are already the state fruit in Vermont. Lawmakers clearly didn’t like the idea following in the Vermont’s footsteps.

Frick’s fourth graders are studying how government works and how bills are made into law. The lesson became hands-on when they got Harrisville Rep. Peter Allen to submit their pumpkin proposal to the House. Both the children and the bill’s sponsors are from the Keene area, which holds a popular annual pumpkin festival.

New Hampshire law lacks an official state fruit, although it has a state bird, insect, animal, rock, mineral, gem, amphibian, wildflower, butterfly, saltwater game fish, freshwater game fish, tartan, sport, motto, flower, tree and several songs.

Their bill was assigned to the House Environment and Agriculture Committee, which held a crowded public hearing on the matter Thursday.

“We can be the first state in the nation with pumpkin as the fruit,” said state Rep. Bill Butynski, a co-sponsor from Hinsdale.

Naming the pumpkin the state fruit “supports the pumpkin farmer in New Hampshire and the pumpkin festival in Keene,” he said.

The children presented legislators with extensive research on the pumpkin. It is a fruit because it grows from the pollinated blossom of a flower, like an apple or tomato.

It fed the Abenaki long before European settlers arrived and its seeds were used for food and for medicine.

In New Hampshire, almost 720 acres have been devoted to cultivating the pumpkin. The food is loaded with beta carotene and one cup has about 50 calories “and no cholesterol,” according to the testimony of pupil Kristina Abbott.

“The pumpkin and the people of New Hampshire show some of the same qualities,” argued her classmate Dallas Landry. New Hampshire settlers were hardy like the pumpkin and started small, he explained.

“Like the people of New Hampshire, pumpkins come in many sizes, shapes and colors,” he added.

Committee Chairman David Babson said the proposal will be considered by a subcommittee. He wouldn’t promise the bill would pass the House but “we can guarantee you we will give it serious thought,” he told the youngsters.