Vermont has a very specific law about how you should eat apple pie.

The state requires serving the dessert with dairy.

When you think of Vermont, the first food that comes to mind may be maple syrup – but there’s another sweet treat this state takes very seriously: apple pie. In fact, Vermont cares so much about apple pie that there is a law outlining some very specific guidelines for serving it.

I learned about the apple pie law on a recent trip to my boyfriend’s small hometown of Manchester. If you’re looking for a cute, typical Vermont town, this place fits the bill, with leaves peeking out and a plant nursery that sells great. apple cider donuts.

When someone asked me if I was familiar with legislation related to baking over a family dinner, the answer was an obvious “no,” but I was intrigued. That night I learned that Vermont law stipulates that apple pie must be served with milk, cheddar cheese, or vanilla ice cream.

Is this simply an urban legend? Is it the real law? And if so, why was it approved? I set out to find answers to these burning questions and dove deep into the realms of Vermont’s legal system and dairy industry.

Related: 15 fantastic apple pie recipes to prepare this fall

The website for the Vermont General Assembly documents law 1 VSA § 512 section one, which declares that the state pie is apple pie, while a old website of the Vermont legislature includes what appears to be the full text of section two: “When serving apple pie in Vermont, a ‘good faith’ effort shall be made to meet one or more of the following conditions: (a) with a cold glass of milk, (b) with a slice of cheddar cheese weighing a minimum of 1/2 ounce, (c) with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream.”

Vermont Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets Anson Tebbetts He confirmed that this is a real law and clarified that it is a session law, a real law that is only published in a book at the end of a legislative session, rather than written in a statute. (As one editor helpfully explains, another good example is the state budget, which is session law “because it contains spending decisions that only apply to that fiscal year and do not need to be reflected in the statutes”).

In this case, the apple pie law is probably a session law because it should not be taken too seriously. No one is going to be arrested for not enjoying their cake with a scoop of ice cream, although in my opinion, that is certainly a crime. The language of the law also reflects this, dictating only that a “good faith effort” be made to serve the dessert with dairy. Tebbetts verified that this legislation was “surely intended to be funny – and probably also ironic – and requires nothing.”

“When serving apple pie in Vermont, a ‘good faith’ effort will be made to meet one or more of the following conditions: (a) with a glass of cold milk, (b) with a slice of cheddar cheese weighing about minimum 1/2 ounce, (c) with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream.”

But why do Vermonters care so much about apple pie that they specify how to serve it? In reality, this law refers more to dairy products than to apples. The dairy sector, one of the state’s 10 largest industries, generated about $1.6 billion in revenue in 2023. People are proud of Vermont dairy products, even if they are not directly involved in the industry. (I know, my boyfriend talks about cheese regularly.)

“Agriculture and specifically dairy farming have shaped Vermont’s landscape, culture and rural economy,” said Corey Barrows, program and public relations manager for Cabot Dairyhe told Food & Wine. “Dairy farmers provide employment, access to their land for recreation, and are often deeply involved in their local communities.” Cabot is a major Vermont-based dairy cooperative whose products you’ve probably seen in grocery stores. The brand even has a shirt which commemorates the law of pie and, of course, now I have one.

Related: Why every cheese fan needs to make a pilgrimage to Cheddar, England

Hilary Walentukregistered dietitian and senior nutrition specialist at New England Dairy, explained the true scale of Vermont’s dairy industry and what its influence looks like within the state. The dairy industry provides more than 13,000 jobs in Vermont (for context, the total population was 647,064 in 2022) and the state is home to the majority of New England dairy farms.

It’s not just a big dairy industry, it’s a quality industry. “Vermont is home to more than 40 different cheesemakers and the state is known nationally and internationally,” Walentuk said. “In 2023, vermont cheeses “It took home 142 national and international cheese awards.”

Despite the influence that milk, cheese and ice cream have in the Green Mountain State, the apple pie law is not a nefarious dairy industry marketing ploy. It is simply joyful legislation that pays tribute to the importance of local agriculture.

So if you can’t visit Vermont during prime leafy season, you can at least eat like you’re in New England by serving a slice of apple pie with a scoop of ice cream, or some cheddar cheese if you like. to try how delicious this unexpected pairing can be.