Is the tomato a fruit or a vegetable and other top stories

Sure, this is ground that has been plowed before. But can you resist a revisiting of the eternal question? This story, examines the lore of the tomato and the essential "fruit or vegetable" determination. From the Examiner.com:

And finally, legally, the tomato is a vegetable according to no less a body than the the US Supreme Court. In 1895, apparently lacking anything more significant to rule on, made the decision that the tomato was indeed a vegetable. Their logic was, that the tomato was typically served 'as part of the main course, rather than as dessert, the role typically occupied by fruits'.


Offer more school meals for free Reuters
More poor children should be allowed to eat for free at school and the government should pay higher reimbursement rates for school meals, a school food service group said at a U.S. Senate hearing on Wednesday. The School Nutrition Association also endorsed a proposal that any food or beverage sold at school, even from vending machines, must comply with U.S. nutrition standards



Russian Federation Agricultural Situation Economic Crisis Update USDA FAS
The global financial crisis has had a significant, negative impact on Russian agribusiness and agricultural production. Declining oil revenues and slumping confidence in the Russian economy have led to strong downward pressures on the ruble. In 2008 inflation was 13.8 percent and given the weakened ruble, inflation is likely to remain in double digits throughout the 2009. The global crisis spurred a liquidity crisis in the Russian financial markets as foreign investors left in mass and foreign banks dissolved Russian credit lines.

China's potato situation USDA FAS


Obama plans to limit farm subsidies meets opposition Agriculture Online

Santa Cruz residents debate Whole Foods store Central Coast