create variable with name from string?

[Malte Köster]

Hi there!

I was wondering if there is a way to create a variable with a name  
that is read from a string.

For example I'm reading a file that is  a shopping list. The first  
line of the file specifies a category, after that it contains items  
belonging to the category:
fruits
apple
peach
banana
I want to read the file, and save the information in a data structure  
like
        items_to_buy =
        {
                fruits =
                {
                        apple
                        peach
                        banana
                }
        }
So before I read the file I don't know that I want to call my  
variable "fruits". I want to read this varibale name from some string.

Hope I could make a bit clear what I mean.
Of course there's many ways to work around this, but I was wondering  
if it is possible to do something like this.

cheers,
malte