Ali Francis Author Talk • The Curious Lives of Vegetables: An Artful Exploration of the Wonderful World of Edible Plants, Their History, and Their Crucial Role in Our Future

Ali Francis is an Australian journalist and former Bon Appétit reporter living in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, The Cut, BBC, The Guardian, TASTE, and other publications. She’s the co-founder of Best Food Blog, a journalist-owned publication about eating, and writes Anyway!, a newsletter about how to be alive. The Curious Lives of Vegetables (Fall 2026), a wild quest to uncover the stories we don’t usually hear about plants, is her first book.

The Curious Lives of Vegetables - Discover the secret lives of vegetables that have shaped our world, brought to life through botanical artist Adriana Picker’s hauntingly beautiful illustrations.

From tomatoes named after civil rights activists to beans rescued from war zones, The Curious Lives of Vegetables introduces you to a cast of unsung plants with remarkable backstories. Each surreal illustration is paired with an essay exploring the history, science, politics, folklore, and cultural significance of each vegetable—revealing how these seemingly ordinary foods have transformed civilizations, preserved traditions, and continue to shape our future.

More than a visual feast, this is an invitation to see carrots, onions, broccoli, and dozens of other plants with fresh wonder. Perfect for gardeners, food lovers, botany enthusiasts, and anyone drawn to the intersection of art and nature.