Watermelon, fruit or vegetable debate in Oklahoma
Robert Morrissey chuckled when he learned about the dust up over the melon.
“Of all the things we need to worry about in state legislatures and government, we’re worrying about this. This is cool,” said Morrissey, executive director of the National Watermelon Association, based in Florida.
In 2007, lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to name watermelon Oklahoma’s official vegetable. Then, on Wednesday, Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, filed a briefly worded bill to repeal that.
Sure, Morrissey’s group considers watermelon a fruit. But, he said, that’s beside the point. (Morrissey notes that because a watermelon grows on a vine, it could be classified as either a fruit or vegetable.)
“It doesn’t matter to us what they call it, as long as we keep providing it as a healthy, economical crop then we’re happy,” he said.
Oklahoma is the only state where the watermelon has been accorded a privileged status – as fruit or vegetable, he said – though Congress has declared July National Watermelon Month.
“Watermelon is the No. 1 fresh cut item that is sold in grocery stores across the country, as far as fruits and vegetables are concerned,” Morrissey said, adding that its popularity is soaring despite a decrease in growers nationally.
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