Which specific items are botanically classified as fruits but usually merchandised as vegetables in the produce department?

Avocados and tomatoes

The distinction between botany and commerce often creates discrepancies in how food items are categorized in the grocery store setting. Botanically, a fruit is defined as the structure that develops from the flower of a plant and contains seeds, which accurately describes avocados and tomatoes. However, when these items reach the retail environment, especially the fresh produce section, they are merchandised and treated culinarily as vegetables due to their typical savory usage in meals, overriding the strict scientific classification. This contrast highlights that commercial grouping leans heavily on culinary application and consumer perception rather than precise taxonomic rules.