It was a great show! The 2025 ASTA 64th Vegetable and Flower Seed Conference provides the opportunity to meet distributors from all over the world with many different business models. This conference also allows us to stay up to date on the latest news and regulations in the industry, so we can continue to provide the best service possible to our customers and stay ahead of new legislation.
AAS/NGB award banquet that took place at the ASTA conference.
One of the fascinating parts of ASTA is engaging with this diversity of customers who have unique needs for their markets. For example, some customers work with:
- Small to medium farmers for farmers’ markets
- Growers for their local grocery store
- Home gardeners
- Both organic and conventional growers
- And all this across different countries, culinary cultures, and climates
Varieties for Specific Markets
We also realized that certain varieties do work for specific customer markets. Some examples include:
- Tomato WonderStar™ Red is a determinate beefsteak that has worked well for some fresh market farmers due to its earliness and ease of harvestability which reduces on-farm labor costs.
- Green Lightning™ Squash our new AAS winner (more below) for its uniqueness in the home garden and on the plate.
- Basils that go well together as a collection for the home gardener such as our Everleaf (late-flowering) types like Emerald Towers, Thai Towers, and Everleaf Lemon.
Last, but not least from ASTA, we have to mention the National Garden Bureau and All-America Selections' annual reception dinner. This year, PanAmerican Seed had not just one but TWO award-winning varieties presented. Green Lightning Squash won the 2024 AAS award!
PAS accepting an AAS award for the new Green Lightning Squash, bred by Joseph Stern.
We would like to thank Joseph Stern for all his efforts breeding this variety that we carry. Also, congratulations to Everleaf Lemon Basil, which was recognized as the 2025 Professional’s Choice Green Thumb Winner. It really is an awesome late flowering, beautiful variety.
As always, the ASTA Vegetable and Flower Seed Conference is a great way to catch up with our industry peers and learn about the goings-on of the organization. We hope to see you at the next conference!