Crossword Genius

Plantations for food production difficult to get into or extremely circuitous (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

orchards

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'plantations for food production' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'difficult to get into or extremely circuitous' is the wordplay.
'difficult' becomes 'hard' (associated in meaning).
'to get into' indicates putting letters inside.
'extremely' suggests removing the centre (only the extremes of the word are used).
'circuitous' with its centre taken out is 'cs'.
'or'+'cs'='orcs'
'hard' put within 'orcs' is 'ORCHARDS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for orchards that I've seen before include "Fruits grow in them" , "where fruit is to be found" , "Woods of fruit trees" , "Areas for fruit growing" , "Groups of fruit trees" .)

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