Why the Tomato Is a Fruit

Fruit or vegetable, the tomato is a delicious food.

The question of whether a tomato is a vegetable or a fruit is classic. Gardeners plant tomatoes in vegetable gardens, yet eagerly wait for the plants to bear fruit. Many old-timers call them love apples, yet they lack the sweetness expected of fruit.

Fruit

Fruit, botanically speaking, is the reproductive product of the plant -- the part with seeds. Fruit originates from pollinated plant flowers. Unlikely fruits include not just tomatoes, but pea pods, avocados and peanuts.

Vegetable

Plant parts that are not fruit are vegetative (not reproductive) -- stems, leaves and roots. Spinach, potatoes, Brussels sprouts and carrots are vegetables. Following through on the logic, oregano (stems and leaves) and cinnamon (from bark) are also vegetables, though classified as herb and spice.

Confusion

Confusion comes from the cultural practice of classifying edible plants by flavor -- sweet equals fruit and nonsweet equals vegetable. Further confusion arises when anything that grows is considered a vegetable, hence the classic question "animal, vegetable or mineral?"

The Tomato

The tomato, obviously a seed-bearer, is a fruit. Since it is not sweet and is normally eaten with the main course of a meal among savory ingredients, it is also a vegetable. Fruit or vegetable, the tomato is a healthy and delicious part of any meal.

References

• United States Department of Energy Botany Archive: Tomato as Fruit, Not Vegetable
• Mad Sci Network: What's the Difference Between Fruit and Vegetable