David Fairchild: Breaking Barriers for Plant Introduction

The Section of Seed and Plant Introduction, led by David Fairchild, introduced thousands of new species and varieties of plants, profoundly impacting the farms, gardens, grocery stores, and kitchens of the United States. Working for the advancement of science and American agriculture, Fairchild and the explorers of his Section at the Department of Agriculture broke barriers when they survived harsh environments, resisted bureaucratic changes, shipped plants and plant material thousands of miles, and successfully introduced new plants to American farmers and consumers.