Just finished reading this book about David Fairchild, who became a member of the arm of government in the US that dealt with food in the last years of the 19th century and early years of the 20th century.
Initially sponsored by a private individual who bankrolled various expeditions to areas all over the world in search of new plants to grow in the US, and allied with the founders of the National Geographic Society and Alexander Graham Bell, it is an interesting story from both political and biological points of view.
https://www.amazon.com/Food-Explorer-Ad ... 236&sr=8-1
Highly recommended for plant people as well as foodies.
One quote:
"The people of Austria-Hungary ate it with enthusiasm, and not because it was good, but it was there." I feel the same way about kale today.....
.