My question, rather, is, what varieties of plants that produce FOOD
can be planted in the FRONT yard.

Whatever won't be in violation of local ordinances when the neighbors
complain. : )

I'm only half-honest with that, I live in an area where the favorite
past-time is for neighbors to call the city on each other. Nevertheless,
last year I grew a bunch of jalapeno, habanero, and other pepper plants in
a "flower bed" (wink-wink) in my front yard, and nobody cared at all. If
anything, I think that the red and orange peppers were pretty enough that
people thought it was neat.

(Of course, you can't get away with that in all areas: Your peppers
might just disappear off of the plants before you have a chance to get to
them!)

steve