With a reputation for being mealy and bland-a slur, say proponents-the breadfruit may seem an unlikely candidate to become the next epicurean phenomenon. But if Diane Ragone prevails, the prickly green South Pacific native will be appearing on more and more menus, especially in regions with shaky food security. That's because breadfruit is packed with nutrients, the trees are prolific, and most important, Ragone is on a mission to spread saplings far and wide. A decade ago, Ragone, a horticultural-ist, launched the Breadfruit Institute here at the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG). Now home to 120 varieties from 34 Pacific islands, the institute has become something of an ark for the plant as rarer varieties wink out in their native habitats.
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