Keith Poss, age 15, of Marietta, Ga., for his question:

IS A TOMATO A FRUIT OR A VEGETABLE?

The tomato is a fruit. There is probably no other garden product that has as many uses as the tomato. It can be used in salads and in many prepared foods. In addition, it is one of the best sources of vitamins A and C.

Although botanists consider the tomato a fruit, many people consider it a vegetable because it is generally used as a vegetable on the dining room table.

The tomato is the leading crop among all those canned in the United States. The greenhouse tomato growing industry centers in northern Ohio. Market garden tomatoes are grown in almost every state and come from farms located near most big cities. The leading tomato growing states include California, Florida, Indiana, New Jersey and Ohio. Ontario leads the Canadian provinces in growing tomatoes.