Kenni Judd wrote:
Steve: The scientists/botanists/etc. and all sensible folks agree with
you -- tomatoes are fruit. But here in the US, they are by decree of the
Supreme Court, a vegetable ...

Nix v Hedden 1893. The case involved the payment of tariff duties on
imported vegetables. Hedden was the collector of duties. The Nix
brothers brought suit against him, arguing that tomatoes were fruit and
therefore exempt from the duties. The court ruled in Hedden's favor,
saying that the common definition of a vegetable prevailed over the
botanical definition of a fruit. The defense called as witnesses
several greengrocers who supported the idea that tomatoes were
considered to be vegetables.


J. Del Col