Is a tomato a fruit?

Answer 1

It's fruit and vegetable

Answer 2

Fruit or vegetable?


Tomato fruitBotanically speaking, a tomato is the ovary, together with its seeds, of a flowering plant, i.e. a fruit or, more precisely, a berry. 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 (and is) considered a vegetable.

This argument has led to actual legal implications in the United States, Australia and China. In 1887, U.S. tariff laws that 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 (149 U.S. 304). While the Tomato can be classified as a fruit, it is officially categorized as a definite vegetable in the United States.

The USDA also considers the tomato a vegetable.

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

So far as I know, the tomato is a vegetable. If it is now a fruit, maybe it is a recent transition. LOL

Answer 4

Technically it's considered a fruit because it produces seeds but is commonly miscatagorized as a vegetable because it is put into salads.

Answer 5

wait a minute, if a tomato has seeds, then how come a cucumber has seeds, is it a fruit as well?

Answer 6

couldnt believe it was a fruit and argue up to the point of no return and now they say its a fruit i could have swore i was told for years it was a vegtable but they say its a fruit dont know how but they say it is.

Answer 7

It is, usually fruits have seeds in them(apples, lemons,....),or on the outside(strawberries). Vegetables usually do not have any.

Answer 8

Well it`s not a fruit...but it`s not vegetable confusing right?

Answer 9

Yes. It is also a vegetable too. Confusing huh? ;)

Answer 10

yes but i like to think of it as a vegetable.