SenorCardgage
08 Mar 2005, 01:45 PM
Jersey Lawmakers Tackle The Tomato (http://cbs2.com/water/watercooler_story_067085501.html)
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TRENTON, N.J. (AP) The humble tomato may technically be a fruit, but lawmakers here consider it a vegetable.
Members of the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Monday approved a measure designating the Jersey tomato as the official state vegetable. A similar proposal is pending in a Senate committee.
Sponsors of the measure get around the fact that the tomato is considered a fruit by using a century-old U.S. Supreme Court ruling that slapped a vegetable tariff on tomatoes, similar to the tax placed on cucumbers, squashes and beans.
In squeezing tomatoes into the vegetable category, justices on the 1887 high court reasoned that if it’s typically served with dinner, and not as a dessert, it must be a vegetable.
“Botanically it’s a fruit, legally it’s a vegetable,” said Sen. Ellen Karcher, who is co-sponsoring the Senate version of the bill. “Any of these bills that promote statewide pride is something we should embrace.”
The Jersey tomato’s ride through the Legislature began after a group of fourth-graders wrote letters urging lawmakers to adopt a state fruit. The beloved blueberry won out, and it—not the tomato -- took its place last year as the official state fruit.
There currently is no official state vegetable in the Garden State.
* * *
There currently is no official state vegetable in the Garden State.
And isn't that the saddest part... :p
* * *
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) The humble tomato may technically be a fruit, but lawmakers here consider it a vegetable.
Members of the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Monday approved a measure designating the Jersey tomato as the official state vegetable. A similar proposal is pending in a Senate committee.
Sponsors of the measure get around the fact that the tomato is considered a fruit by using a century-old U.S. Supreme Court ruling that slapped a vegetable tariff on tomatoes, similar to the tax placed on cucumbers, squashes and beans.
In squeezing tomatoes into the vegetable category, justices on the 1887 high court reasoned that if it’s typically served with dinner, and not as a dessert, it must be a vegetable.
“Botanically it’s a fruit, legally it’s a vegetable,” said Sen. Ellen Karcher, who is co-sponsoring the Senate version of the bill. “Any of these bills that promote statewide pride is something we should embrace.”
The Jersey tomato’s ride through the Legislature began after a group of fourth-graders wrote letters urging lawmakers to adopt a state fruit. The beloved blueberry won out, and it—not the tomato -- took its place last year as the official state fruit.
There currently is no official state vegetable in the Garden State.
* * *
There currently is no official state vegetable in the Garden State.
And isn't that the saddest part... :p