An Age Old Conundrum

An Age Old Conundrum. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. Pumpkin pie. A staple of the Thanksgiving table. But here is a question for you. Is it a vegetable or a fruit? Cherry pie, apple pie, pumpkin pie. mmm. Lacy Grey takes a look at the pumpkin. LACY: This falls into the same category question as the tomato. Is it a fruit or a vegetable. Pumpkins are gourd-like squash with a thick shell on the outside, with seeds and pulp on the inside, typically orange or yellow. The main nutrients are lutein and both alpha and beta carotene, the latter of which generates vitamin A in the body. Pumpkins are grown all around the world for a variety of reasons ranging from agricultural purposes, such as animal feed, to commercial and ornamental sales. But what is it really? The key, like tomatoes is in the seeds. Vegetables do not have seeds that are part of what we eat so then technically, cucumbers and squash and green beans would all be fruits! So the answer is – the pumpkin is a fruit! There will be a test. Well whether you agree with Lacy or not, you will agree that once pied...it is delicious and of course with a dollop of whipped cream...mmmm. So how much is a dollop? I think we will save that for another time. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.