Nick Babiak at the peach parade. Photo by Larissa Babiak.

In November 2013, Stapleton resident and fourth-grader Nick Babiak had a fruitful idea. He decided the Palisade peach should be named the official state fruit for contributing 75 percent of Colorado’s fruit output. Plus, “It’s like the sweetest thing you can ever have. It’s like better than chocolate, better than marshmallow,” Babiak said.

After complaints from cantaloupe growers, the House of Representatives did not name the Palisade peach the state fruit. The Palisade Chamber of Commerce still wanted to thank Babiak for his effort and asked him be the grand marshal at the Palisade Peach Festival parade on Aug. 16 near Grand Junction.