A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Food Garden Forum Is it a fruit or a vegetable?

According to what I have heard a Tomato is a fruit well it's really a berry.

But during the late 1800's there was a Tax on Vegetables, most sellers were calling the Tomato a Fruit so they would not be charging Taxes on it. The US Supreme Court decided that a Tomato was a Vegetable and therefore subject to the Tax.

Where's the quote from Pat? A tomato is definitely the fruit (or berry) of the tomato plant. Well I suppose legislatures the world over have always bent the truth to get more tax money. (Our current lot are great at it, not that I want to get political). A bit of spin never hurt anyone except the ordinary tax payer.

Now you say tomato, but I say tomato and Dan Quayle says tomatoe (or potatoe). Remember that? Ah memories. lol.

I don't have the quote it was something I heard discussed on Foodnetwork.

I've got a quote to share:

The court decision on May 10, 1893 in Nix vs. Hedden stated, "Botanically, tomatoes are considered a fruit of the vine, just as are cucumbers, squashes, beans, and peas. But in common language of people, whether sellers or consumers of provisions, all these are vegetables which are grown in kitchen gardens, and which, eaten cooked or raw, are, like potatoes, carrots, parsnips, turnips, beets, cauliflower, cabbage, celery, and lettuce, usually served at dinner in, with, or after the soup, fish, or meats which constitute the principal part of the repast, and not like fruits generally, as dessert."

I hope this illuminates things a *wee* bit.

thank you sarah, it does illuminate things. now i know why a melon is a fruit but a cucumber is a veggie and both are cucurbits (sp?).

Soooo, actually, during supper we should be able to tell our kids to eat their "fruit," not their "vegetables"

I always though any 'seed pod' that develops behind a caylx is called a fruit so your pepper, cukes, etc.

YOur correct..

money money money, that what it always seems to come back too.

Vegetable

We call it a tomato around here and it always tends to be in the vegetable department in our grocery stores. I use it as a vegetable, in salads, soups, stews, sandwiches, sauces.. The tomato is put on our hamburgers and most people don't put fruits on their hamburgers, lol.

Most people don't grill fruit either, but, I happen to enjoy a big plantain hot off the grill. ;)