New Jersey Wants To Make The Tomato State's Official VEGETABLE

[matcom]

<snip>

TRENTON, N.J. -- The Jersey tomato may be a fruit -- but that's not stopping some state legislators from trying to make it New Jersey's official vegetable.

Lawmakers in the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee have voted to advance legislation designating the treasured Jersey tomato as the official state vegetable.

A similar proposal is pending in the Senate Economic Growth Committee, and has yet to be considered by the full membership of either house.

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.

Supporters say the bills promote statewide pride and should be embraced.

http://www.wftv.com/food/4263324/detail.html

[slackmaster]

1. The tomato is most definitely a fruit

It's a berry.

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.

Uh-huh. There you have it. All you have to do is follow the money to discover peoples' true intentions.

Today: Official state "vegetable".

Tomorrow: New Jersey imposes tomato tarrif to bolster flagging state tax revenues.

[MikeG]

2. The stool pigeon is the state bird.

[KurtNYC]

3. Up is down, war is peace, a fruit is a vegetable

Science be damned!

[Ellen Forradalom]

4. The Eggplant is Appalled!

And may eat New Jersey next!

[auburngrad82]

5. hmmm... I would have thought NJ's state veggie would be catsup

but that brings us back to tomatoes, doesn't it?

[bookman]

6. Jersey Tomatoes

The best. Jersey gets knocked for many things, but Jersey Tomatoes are just great.

[LiberalEsto]

7. Exactly right!

New Jersey tomatos are the tastiest anywhere. New Jersey is justly proud of its yummiest crop, and Jersey tomatos deserve to be the state vegetable.

Bear in mind that Rutgers University, my alma mater and New Jersey's state university, developed the popular Rutgers tomato and other varieties that grace many a backyard garden.

I live in Maryland now, but whenever I go back to NJ in summertime, I bring home a huge bag of tomatos from the Red Top or Green Top markets on Route 70. Mmmmmm. Tomato heaven.