is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable?

Answer 1

it is technically a fruit, but is treated by most as a vegtable

Answer 2

Botanically speaking, a tomato is the ovary, together with its seeds, of a flowering plant, i.e. a fruit. However, from a culinary perspective the tomato is typically served as a meal, or part of a main course of a meal, meaning that it would be considered a vegetable (a culinary term which has no botanical meaning).

This argument has led to actual legal implications in the United States. In 1887, U.S. tariff laws which imposed a duty on vegetables but not on fruits caused the tomato's status to become a matter of legal importance. The U.S. Supreme Court settled this controversy in 1893, declaring that the tomato is a vegetable, using the popular definition which classifies vegetable by use, that they are generally served with dinner and not dessert. The case is known as Nix v. Hedden.

The USDA also considers a tomato a vegetable.

It should be noted that strictly speaking the holding of the case applies only to the interpretation of the Tariff Act of March 3, 1883 and not much else. The court does not purport to reclassify tomato for botanical or for any other purpose other than paying a tax under a tariff act.

In concordance with this classification, the tomato has been proposed as the state fruit of New Jersey. Arkansas takes both sides by declaring the "South Arkansas Vine Ripe Pink Tomato" to be both the state fruit and the state vegetable in the same law, citing both its botanical and culinary classifications.

Answer 3

A Fruit

Answer 4

Tomato is really a fruit, but we treat it as a vegetable. For instance, it counts as a veggie in school lunches.

Answer 5

It's a fruit due to the seeds. Although at one time, it was considered a vegetable.

Answer 6

That way in INDIA we use raw plantains as vegetables but banana is also a fruit. Same way mangoes.
In unripe condition tomatoe is a vegetable and in ripe condition it is both but used more as a daily vegetable than as juice.

Answer 7

In 1889, the Supreme Court declared it a vegetable (for purposes of collecting tariffs). Scientifically, it is a fruit.

Answer 8

Its a fruit, but thats strange because yet we use/treat it like a vegetable. They need to change it to vegetable source.

Answer 9

the gov way back when put a tax on it for being a vegetable, even though it's actually really a fruit.

Answer 10

tomato is a fruit

Answer 11

depends who you ask

if your'e a botanist..anything that has seeds..is a fruit..so a tomato is a fruit

a vegetable is any "non seed" part of the plant that is edible

so...salad, potatoes, corn, etc.

BUT

in 1893 congress made the tomato a vegetable for nutrition purposes...because thats how it was normally eaten and prepared

so..Botanist-Fruit
Dietician-Veggie