What do Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Pumpkin, Squash and Strawberries Have in Common?

@hofferp (4734)
United States
May 8, 2010 2:18pm CST
The answer, of course, lies in the botanical classification of produce. The USDA classifies only fruits.
3 people like this
6 responses
laglen
@laglen (19759)
• United States
9 May 10
Pass the yummy squash ice cream?
1 person likes this
laglen
@laglen (19759)
• United States
9 May 10
Well I bake with pumpkin and my friends makes pumpkin every year...
hofferp
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
13 May 10
Now a baked pumpkin pie with pumpkin ice cream would be interesting...
1 person likes this
hofferp
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
9 May 10
If I ever find any, I'll be sure to pass it along. I can handle most "fruits"...squash just isn't one of them. For that matter, I wonder if anyone has ever tried pumpkin ice cream? Now strawberry ice cream...right up my alley.
1 person likes this
Just an Ordinary Owl?
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
8 May 10
In the EU, carrots are also classified as a fruit. This is because, in Portugal, I believe, they make jam from them and the jam-makers or the growers (I don't know which) protested at the classification because of tax or subsidy differences.
hofferp
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
9 May 10
That really throws the classification in to a tissy... Carrots with seeds? I've had carrots with hairy roots still attached...
Just an Ordinary Owl?
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
9 May 10
I don't know about the seeds. Maybe they put little chips of wood in like people say they used to put in 'raspberry' jam during the war (it was supposed to have been made from beetroot)!
hofferp
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
13 May 10
TheRealDawn
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 May 10
I know I know, they're fruits? Dawn was late to class...
TheRealDawn
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
13 May 10
That and letting the kids hog the computer!
hofferp
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
13 May 10
Better late than never. I bet you were reading the U.S. History book, huh?
1 person likes this
cream97
@cream97 (29086)
• United States
19 Jul 10
Hi, hofferp. I always thought that tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and pumpkin was vegetables only. Anything vegetable that is sweet is not fruits in my opinion. But in this case, The USDA says differently.
Gomer Magtibay
@magtibaygom (4858)
• Philippines
29 Jun 10
What do they have in common? I think, vitamins. They all have vitamins! And maybe the most common vitamin they contain is Vitamin A. Then if you are looking for a sure common denominator for all of them, then it's "fiber". They all have fibers needed for a healthy colon.
Gomer Magtibay
@magtibaygom (4858)
• Philippines
29 Jun 10
I just wonder why this discussion is under Vitamin C. I am not sure if some of the food mentioned above does contain Vitamin C...
nherison
@nherison (74)
•
1 Jul 10
all i know is.. all that kind of foods are delicious and good in our health ..
besthope44
@besthope44 (12123)
• India
30 May 10
Well i feel tomato, cucumber, pumpkin i thought they are vegetables. Squash and strawberry are fruits. I am not sure of it.
hofferp
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
30 May 10
You'd think so, but most schemes declare them all fruits because they all have seeds. It's just hard thinking of a cucumber pie... Thanks for your comments.