Is a tomato a fruit? The Supreme Court says no. Discover the 1893 case that changed food history. 🍅⚖️ #NixvHedden

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ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable? While botany says one thing, the U.S. Supreme Court says another. In this episode, we explore the landmark 1893 case Nix v. Hedden.

We dive into the Tariff Act of 1883, a protectionist law that taxed imported vegetables but left fruits tax-free. When importer John Nix sued tax collector Edward Hedden, it sparked a legal battle that went all the way to the highest court in the land. Learn why Justice Horace Gray ignored the dictionary in favor of the “dinner table” and established the Ordinary Meaning Rule—a legal principle still used today to interpret ambiguous laws based on common language rather than scientific technicalities.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 – The Botanical vs. Legal Tomato Debate

0:48 – Nix v. Hedden: The 10% Vegetable Tax

1:30 – The Ordinary Meaning Rule & The Verdict

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