Nine acres scattered with food plants (9)

I believe the answer is:

canneries

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'food plants' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

'nine acres scattered' is the wordplay.
'scattered' indicates an anagram.
'nine'+'acres'='nineacres'
'nineacres' with letters rearranged gives 'CANNERIES'.

'with' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for canneries that I've seen is " food packing plants".)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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