Southern food plants (5)
I believe the answer is:
spies
'plants' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'southern food' is the wordplay.
'southern' becomes 's' (abbreviation).
'food' becomes 'pies' (pies are a type of food).
's'+'pies'='SPIES'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for spies that I've seen before include "Undercover agents" , "Snoops" , "Secret agents" , "Double agents" , "Eg, CIA" .)