Re: Style Question

**K*@aol.com**

I can't think of any instance where one would capitalize the names of  
vegetables, such as tomato, squash, and cucumber. Generic modifiers, such as  
kidney as in kidney beans or beefsteak, as in beefsteak tomatoes, normally  
are in lower case--one exception might be when the modifier is a proper noun, 
a  place or person, such as English bean (one name for favas). So it's sweet 
potato  and Irish potato. (Or potatoe, if you voted for Dan Quayle.)

There are even exceptions to that general rule: lima bean, named for the  
capitol of Peru, is usually written in lower case. But most proper noun  
modifies should be capitalized.

Cultivar names always are capitalized.

At least that's what I've done in newspapers, blogs, magazines, and  books.
Karan Davis Cutler
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