ABSTRACT
In the introduction chapter, we discuss the importance of defining “food.” In this chapter, we consider the relevance of defining “fruits” and “vegetables.” The Supreme Court weighs in on defining these terms, as does the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the crafters of the Farm Bill. Botanically, tomatoes are classified as fruits. However, according to culinary and common usage and, surprisingly, as a matter of law, tomatoes are deemed to be vegetables.
