Is the Tomato Legally a Vegetable? The Landmark 1893 Case Explained
                                
                                
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                                    4 min read                                
                            
                                In the landmark 1893 case *Nix v. Hedden*, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that for the purpose of import tariffs, the tomato is legally a vegetable. This decision created a lasting precedent, forcing a distinction between the scientific classification and the common culinary use that answers the question: is the tomato legally a vegetable?