Some food plants are well suited to agriculture while others are not - this is a theme explored in Guns, Germs, and SteelW by Jared Diamond.
For example, only one Australian plant (the macadamia) has become a successful commercial crop. Other Australian plants can be used as bush tucker (harvested, prepared and eaten) but have not prove practical in commerce.
Many plants can provide high-quality food, but are not suited for storage or transport - so they either don't appear in shops, or appear rarely and for a high price. Growing these in a private or public garden allows the benefits to be enjoyed without worrying about transport or storage - eating them straight off the plant, or picking and using immediately.
Examples are grouped by plant type, below.
Annuals:
- Heirloom tomatoes (don't transport well, but can be delicious and interesting)
Bushes:
Trees:
Semi-wild
Australia Aboriginal peoples developed practices to increase the number of food plants, without actually practicing "agriculture." This included letting seeds drop in areas that they frequented (was this a deliberate practice?[verification needed]), and replacing the tops of wild yams in the soil, so they could regrow.
Semi-commercial
Sometimes used commercially, but either expensive, or rare in fresh form due to handling challenges:
- Raspberries
- Blackberries - acts as a difficult to control weed, so this is one delicious food you may choose not to grow! Classed as a noxious weed in Australia.[verification needed]
In the garden
These plants can provide frequent healthy snacks, and can help introduce children to the joys of healthy natural foods.
Becoming commercially viable
Some plants began in this category, but through selective breeding and new growing techniques
became commercial - for example the blueberry.[verification needed]