Many people are used to seeing tomatoes in the vegetable section of supermarkets, and many consider them a vegetable. However, tomatoes are actually fruits. The distinction between fruit and vegetables is biological and relates to the way the food is produced by the plant. Generally, vegetables are parts of the actual main plant. This can be part of the roots in the case of carrots or potatoes, parts of the stem in the case of celery or parts of the leaves in the case of lettuce. However, the fruits of plants are produced as a result of the reproductive process and fruits contain seeds. Tomatoes are therefore a fruit as they contain the seeds that grow as a result of the fertilisation of flowers on the plant. Tomatoes are often thought of as a vegetable because they have a low sugar content and are not sweet like many fruits. They are also more likely to be used in cuisine in a similar way to vegetables as part of vegetables dishes and as a stock in soups and casseroles, but are rarely eaten whole and raw like other fruits.
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