“What’s the worst vegetable to bring on a boat?”/“A leek.”

A children’s food joke involving leeks—which sounds like “leaks”—is:
 
Q: What’s the worst vegetable to bring on a boat?
A: A leek.
 
The joke was cited in print in 1892 and 1924, but became popular by about 2008.
 
   
21 July 1892, Bridgeton (NJ) Evening News, pg. 1, col. 2:
Theodore Baker, Cumberland’s boss trucker, says the worst vegetable you can have about a ship is a leek.
 
Google Books
L̀istening-in’: and Other Addresses to Children
By William Hay
Paisley (UK): Alexander Gardner. Limited
1924
Pg. 42:
They would ask, ” What was the worst vegetable they brought with them from England?” And the answer to this conundrum was ” The Scottish leek.”
   
Google Books
Stowaway!:
Adventures at Sea
By Tracey West
New York, NY: Grosset & Dunlap
2008
Pg. 56:
“What’s the worst vegetable to have on a ship?” you ask Rockhopper.
 
Rockhopper looks at you. “I don’t know, matey. What?”
 
“A leek!” you say. “Leek! Get it?”
 
Twitter
Emily Neil
‏@emmmmily_
what is the worst vegetable to have on a boat-a leek..haha (:
9:45 AM - 25 Dec 2009
 
Twitter
Gemma Byers
‏@gemmabyers
@RedHouseBooks What’s the worst vegetable to have on a boat? A leek!
3:43 AM - 14 Jan 2011
 
Twitter
hanna cody
‏@hannacody
@MetalChristine @jessacass What’s the worst vegetable to take on a boat??
A Leek #badjokefriday
9:04 PM - 22 Sep 2011
     
Google Books
Food Jokes For Kids 6
By Peter Crumpton
PeteyRF Creative
2015
Pg. ?:
What’s the worst vegetable to serve on a boat?
Leeks!
 
Facebook
Woodman’s - Altoona, WI
April 24, 2015 ·
What’s the worst vegetable to serve on a boat? “Leeks!” ‪#‎FoodJokeFriday‬
 
reddit
What’s the worst vegetable to bring on a boat? (self.dadjokes)
submitted March 9, 2016 by jay_el_ess
a leek