State vegetable?

[inteller]

When I think watermelon, Oklahoma is the last place I think of.

This is ridiculous.

[Wilbur]

quote:Originally posted by recyclemichael

This from KOTV...

Watermelon Declared State Vegetable
- 4/17/2007
Oklahoma already has a state fruit, so legislation given final approval by the state Senate on Tuesday declares the watermelon as the official state vegetable. The measure was introduced in the House by Democratic Rep. Joe Dorman of Rush Springs, site of an annual watermelon festival in August. Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton, sponsored the bill in the Senate.

"The controversy on whether watermelon is a fruit or vegetable has been officially decided by the Oklahoma Legislature," Barrington said. He said watermelon comes from the cucumber and gourd families, which are classified as vegetables.

Others are not convinced, however. Sen. Nancy Riley, D-Tulsa, said her dictionary refers to the watermelon as a fruit. "I guess it can be both," Barrington conceded, while adding that Oklahoma already has designated the strawberry as the state fruit. He said Oklahoma Department of Agriculture officials had advised anyone to answer "yes" to the question of whether watermelon is a vegetable or a fruit.

The bill now goes to Gov. Brad Henry.

Were we not just talking in the state quarter topic about how we need to change our image.  Then this comes along.  We will never change our image until we stop doing stupid stuff like this.  How embarrassing!!

[Dana431]

quote:Originally posted by recyclemichael

This from KOTV...

Watermelon Declared State Vegetable
- 4/17/2007
Oklahoma already has a state fruit, so legislation given final approval by the state Senate on Tuesday declares the watermelon as the official state vegetable. The measure was introduced in the House by Democratic Rep. Joe Dorman of Rush Springs, site of an annual watermelon festival in August. Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton, sponsored the bill in the Senate.

"The controversy on whether watermelon is a fruit or vegetable has been officially decided by the Oklahoma Legislature," Barrington said. He said watermelon comes from the cucumber and gourd families, which are classified as vegetables.

Others are not convinced, however. Sen. Nancy Riley, D-Tulsa, said her dictionary refers to the watermelon as a fruit. "I guess it can be both," Barrington conceded, while adding that Oklahoma already has designated the strawberry as the state fruit. He said Oklahoma Department of Agriculture officials had advised anyone to answer "yes" to the question of whether watermelon is a vegetable or a fruit.

The bill now goes to Gov. Brad Henry.

I think it will be a sad day for Oklahoma education if it passes.

[Cubs]

I don't understand the problem here. Watermelons are a vegetable as is their closest relative, the cucumber.  We don't have a state vegetable. Oklahoma produces watermelons. Watermelons are delicious. No problem with me.

[dbacks fan]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

When I think watermelon, Oklahoma is the last place I think of.

This is ridiculous.

Long story short, if watermelon is the state vegetable, then rocksalt needs to be the state ammunition. Until you have been shot in the back of your legs with rocksalt, you haven't lived.

[Rowdy]

They tried to make the state watermelon the state fruit but that was given to Paul Tay.

[Wilbur]

quote:Originally posted by Cubs

I don't understand the problem here. Watermelons are a vegetable as is their closest relative, the cucumber.  We don't have a state vegetable. Oklahoma produces watermelons. Watermelons are delicious. No problem with me.

According to dictionary.com, the Oxford dictionary, the Merriam-Webster dictionary, Encarta, the Cambridge dictionary and the American Heritage dictionary (the first six dictionaries I checked) all list the watermelon as a fruit.

[RLitterell]

quote:Originally posted by dbacks fan

quote:Originally posted by inteller

When I think watermelon, Oklahoma is the last place I think of.

This is ridiculous.

Long story short, if watermelon is the state vegetable, then rocksalt needs to be the state ammunition. Until you have been shot in the back of your legs with rocksalt, you haven't lived.

Got caught stealing watermelons from the patch huh? []

[jne]

quote:Originally posted by MichaelC

As much as this state produces, it should be Marijuana.

Thus the Red Bud.

[jne]

It is not even remotely debatable that the watermelon IS a fruit. It is the reproductive, seed baring, part of the plant (seedless watermelons don't count here). If this is an either/or than a vegetable is a plant grown for food that is not otherwise designated as a fruit.  We will just come out of this looking about as academic as a Kansas school board. Aren't there some budget issues the lawmakers could be focusing on?!!

[iplaw]

Apparently the only reason that it's partially considered a vegetable is because some people eat the rind...

Super.  We're now the only state that's officially represented by a plant that has a MPD...

[RecycleMichael]

Come on. It has been worse.

The state flower was the Mistletoe (up until 2004 when the Oklahoma Rose became the flower. The mistletoe is now our official "floral emblem" ).

It is a parasitic plant that kills trees by going into the bark and draining the water and minerals from it's host.

[Rico]

Yes it could be worse.... Our vegetable could be an eggplant.... that is actually a fruit.... that is actually a berry..

Be Thankful we are not the State of the "Fruity Berries"
 [}:)]

[dbacks fan]

quote:Originally posted by RLitterell

quote:Originally posted by dbacks fan

quote:Originally posted by inteller

When I think watermelon, Oklahoma is the last place I think of.

This is ridiculous.

Long story short, if watermelon is the state vegetable, then rocksalt needs to be the state ammunition. Until you have been shot in the back of your legs with rocksalt, you haven't lived.

Got caught stealing watermelons from the patch huh? []

Ah yes, the days of my mispent youth.[}:)]

[dbacks fan]

It could be worse. Here is the athletics page for Scottsdale Community College, "Home of the Fighting......."

You'll have to check it out, don't want to spoil the suprise.[]

http://www.scottsdalecc.edu/athletics/index.html