What makes a food fruit?

A fruit is a botanical term that refers to the mature ovary of a flowering plant, containing the seeds. This definition is based on the plant's reproductive biology.

Here's a breakdown:

* Flowers: Plants produce flowers, which contain the reproductive organs.

* Pollination: When a flower is pollinated, the ovary begins to develop.

* Fruit Formation: The ovary swells and ripens, becoming the fruit.

* Seeds: The fruit contains the seeds, which are the plant's embryos.

Therefore, something is a fruit if it develops from the ovary of a flower and contains seeds.

Examples:

* Apples, oranges, bananas, strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocados, and even peas are all fruits.

It's important to note:

* Culinary classifications often differ from botanical definitions. For example, tomatoes are considered vegetables in culinary contexts, even though they're botanically fruits.

* Not all fruits are edible. Many fruits are hard, bitter, or poisonous.

In short, a fruit is a structure that develops from the flower of a plant and contains seeds, regardless of its culinary use or edibility.