Is a Tomato a Fruit? It Depends on How You Slice It
In the news article titled Is A Tomato A Fruit? It Depends On How You Slice It, Rebecca Rupp discusses straightforwardly the difference between a fruit and a vegetable. First, Rupp Explains what we, common people, would say the difference between a fruit and a vegetable would be. According to Rupp, we might define a fruit as "an entity that develops from the fertilized ovary of a flower", appealing and tempting, and a food we normally eat as a dessert. Similarly, we might describe a vegetable as "any edible part of a plant that doesn’t happen to be a fruit" or the stuff kids play around with and hide under their food so they won't have to eat them.
Next, she explains what the Supreme Court in 1886 said where John Nix argued with Edward Hedden that a tomato was a fruit. Hedden "demanded payment of a ten percent tax in accordance with the Tariff Act of 1883". However, Nix knew that this demand couldn't be accepted because a tomato was in fact not a vegetable, but a fruit. The case made it's way to the Supreme Court and Justice Horace Gray ruled in favor of the tomato being a vegetable in 1893. Gray argued that a tomato was a vegetable in the sense that a vegetable is eaten at dinner along with the appetizer (i.e. soup, fish, or meat). The court also found beans, onions and chestnuts to be vegetables. Whereas rhubarb, carrots and sweet potatoes to be fruits because they are used to make jellies and jams.
Rupp also says that states have altered what foods fall into what category. For example, Tennessee and Ohio have claimed tomato as their official state fruit. Some have claimed it both their official state fruit and vegetable. Louisiana on the other hand named it their official state's vegetable plant. But the state that has caused the most confusion is Oklahoma, which claimed in 2006 their state vegetable to be the watermelon.
Finally, Rupp concludes by saying that where you place certain foods depends on what you think and how you eat them. Many people go for extremes for fruits, in fact it is a sin to steal a fruit. But the vegetables aren't worth the trouble.
Next, she explains what the Supreme Court in 1886 said where John Nix argued with Edward Hedden that a tomato was a fruit. Hedden "demanded payment of a ten percent tax in accordance with the Tariff Act of 1883". However, Nix knew that this demand couldn't be accepted because a tomato was in fact not a vegetable, but a fruit. The case made it's way to the Supreme Court and Justice Horace Gray ruled in favor of the tomato being a vegetable in 1893. Gray argued that a tomato was a vegetable in the sense that a vegetable is eaten at dinner along with the appetizer (i.e. soup, fish, or meat). The court also found beans, onions and chestnuts to be vegetables. Whereas rhubarb, carrots and sweet potatoes to be fruits because they are used to make jellies and jams.
Rupp also says that states have altered what foods fall into what category. For example, Tennessee and Ohio have claimed tomato as their official state fruit. Some have claimed it both their official state fruit and vegetable. Louisiana on the other hand named it their official state's vegetable plant. But the state that has caused the most confusion is Oklahoma, which claimed in 2006 their state vegetable to be the watermelon.
Finally, Rupp concludes by saying that where you place certain foods depends on what you think and how you eat them. Many people go for extremes for fruits, in fact it is a sin to steal a fruit. But the vegetables aren't worth the trouble.
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