Resetting the table for people and plants: Botanic gardens and research organizations collaborate to address food and agricultural plant blindness

Food and agricultural plants are integral to human well-being. Due to their universal importance, such plants would appear to represent an ideal entryway by which to address plant blindness. However, with limited opportunities for direct contact with agriculture, many people cannot appreciate the flora that feed us every day. This paper provides examples of informal education initiatives aimed at increasing public awareness and appreciation of food and agricultural plants, made possible through collaborations between botanic gardens, academic institutions, nonprofits, and agricultural research organizations. The authors hope that these examples encourage and inspire organizations to further utilize food and agricultural plants to tackle plant blindness.