So – the tomato – is it really a fruit?
Scientifically speaking, yes, the tomato is a fruit, which is defined as “a seed-bearing structure that develops from the ovary of a flowering plant.”
But, legally speaking, the tomato, it turns out, IS a vegetable.
In 1893, the Supreme Court was forced to make a decision on the matter after a dispute between a fruit importer and the Port Authority of New York. The Port Authority said tomatoes were vegetables, subject to a 10% import tax. The importer argued they were fruits, subject to no tax. Ultimately, the court decided they were, indeed, vegetables.
As they say, tomayto, tomhato. Regardless, here’s a great way to take advantage of the summer tomato deluge.