All-America Selections honors industry achievers at the 2013 AAS Summer Summit

In following a 20-year tradition, All-America Selections (AAS) hosted their annual Summer Summit August 12 to14, this year in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. The Summer Summit is an opportunity for breeders, brokers/distributors, mail order seed companies, seed packet companies, growers, retailers and AAS Trial Judges to network and learn more about recent AAS Winners as well as varieties currently undergoing trialing. This year the group spent one day touring trials at JVK, Stokes Seeds, Vineland Research Station, and the Niagara College Winery & Brewery, ending the day at Balls Falls Conservation Area. The second day the group toured trials at the University of Guelph and Dam Seeds before wrapping up by viewing the AAS Display Garden and other installations at Royal Botanical Gardens.

A highlight of the AAS Summer Summit is the Awards Banquet, held this year on Wednesday night, where two prestigious horticulture industry awards are presented.

Greg Gabrels presenting the AAS Medallion of Honor award to Joel Goldsmith.The first award given that evening was the prestigious AAS Medallion of Honor, an award designed to recognize someone with a lifelong dedication to advancement in the field of horticulture.

All-America Selections announced Joel Goldsmith of Goldsmith Seeds as the recipient of the 2013 AAS Medallion of Honor. Joel’s family founded Goldsmith Seeds in 1962 and Joel took over as President in 1989. In the history of Goldsmith Seeds, they have won an impressive twenty-two AAS Winner awards for their innovative flower breeding. Joel started serving on the AAS Board of Directors in 1989 then quickly moved to Treasurer, Vice President, then President in 1993 when he established the stand alone event now known as the AAS Summer Summit.

Established in 2004, the AAS Breeders Cup Award was designed to recognize a person who dramatically influenced horticulture by breeding new cultivars that brought significant improvement to those classes.

Angus Mellish presenting the AAS Breeder’s Cup award to Rob Johnston, Jr. All-America Selections announced that the 2013 Breeders Cup Award recipient is Robert L. Johnston, Jr. Rob is the Founder and Chairman of Johnny’s Selected Seeds where he has bred award winning vegetables for an impressive 40 years. Rob also served on the AAS Board of Directors from 2001 to 2010, the last four years as President and Past President.

To recognize his significant breeding accomplishments that include AAS Vegetable Award Winners Pumpkin ‘Baby Bear,’ Squash ‘Bonbon,’ Pepper ‘Carmen,’ and Tomato ‘Jasper,’ All-America Selections Board of Directors chose Rob Johnston to be honored with the Breeders’ Cup Trophy.


The 2014 AAS Summer Summit and awards banquet will be held in the Carolinas.

For more information, visit www.all-americaselections.org