I have always believed that olives are vegetables. To me and many others, they fit perfectly in salads and pizzas alongside onions, peppers, and lettuce. It simply doesn't seem fitting to categorize them as fruits alongside apples and bananas. It's time to reconsider how we classify this versatile food.

By definition, fruits are typically sweet and juicy. Olives, on the other hand, possess a distinct, savory flavor that pairs excellently with other vegetables. It seems out of place to categorize them alongside sweet-tasting fruits, and I believe that like me, many people consider olives as essential components of vegetable dishes.

Historically, the classification of plants has been based on scientific criteria, particularly botanical ones. However, when it comes to food, perhaps taste and use in cooking should play a role too. Fruits like cabbage, avocados, and tomatoes have faced classification debates, reflecting how opinions and contexts can reshape our perceptions.

Reclassifying olives as vegetables would not only align with how they are commonly used in meals but also with many people's perception of them. Changing their classification could also simplify recipe categorization and improve how culinary information is shared and understood.

Storebought bananas are genetically modified to not have seeds—but we still call it a fruit. 
Pineapples don't have seeds, but they are also classified as fruits. 
Olives are usually eaten in savory dishes, like vegetables. 
Fruits are usually sweet or juicy, but olives are bitter and salty  
Fruits are usually eaten fresh, but olives are inedible raw and must be cured, brined, or fermented—more like how we prepare some vegetables. 
This makes them fit more into the prepared vegetable category. 
Grocery stores often place olives in the vegetable or condiment section, not the fruit aisle. 
Restaurants list olives under salads, antipasto, or vegetable sides, not fruit dishes 
Broccoli – the part we eat is actually a cluster of flower buds. 
Cauliflower – similar to broccoli, it’s a dense cluster of flower tissue. 
Artichokes – the edible part is the flower bud before it blooms. 
Brussels sprouts – the small buds are tiny, undeveloped flowers. 
Squash and zucchini – the part we eat is the fruit that develops from the flower. AND they have seeds,---- Those are all classified as veggies and they grow from a flower.