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AAS Summer Summit salutes industry innovators

July 7, 2014  By Dave Harrison


July 7, 2014, Charlotte, NC — All-America Selections presented a pair of awards during this year's Summer Summit.

July 7, 2014, Charlotte, NC — All-America Selections presented a pair of awards during this year's Summer Summit.

Dr. Allan Armitage received the 2014 AAS Medallion of Honor, while Ellen Leue of PanAmerican Seed was the 2014 Breeder's Cup Award recipient.

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Allan Armitage, recipient of the AAS Medallion of Honor award.

The AAS Medallion of Honor recognizes someone with a lifelong dedication to advancement in the field of horticulture.

Ron Cramer from Sakata Ornamentals, AAS president and long-time friend, presented the story of Armitage's long and illustrious career, adding that Armitage has been an AAS Flower Judge from 1983 until his retirement from the University of Georgia in 2013.

Unfortunately, Armitage was unable to attend the banquet but had recorded this acceptance video prior to the event.

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AAS president Ron Cramer presents the AAS Breeder's Cup award to Ellen Leue.

The AAS Breeders Cup Award was established in 2004 to recognize a plant breeder who dramatically influenced horticulture by breeding new cultivars that brought significant improvements to those classes.

Co-worker and banquet master of ceremonies Mark Gross presented the story of Leue's vast breeding contributions and innovations during her impressive career.

Ellen began her breeding work in 1982 breeding seed potatoes then moved on to ornamentals with significant introductions in petunias, impatiens and other crops including AAS Winners petunia Orchid Daddy, impatiens Swirl Monet Mix, diascia Diamonte Coral Rose and most recently, angelonia Serenita Pink.

And now her work is coming full circle with a renewed emphasis on edible crops, including recent AAS Regional Winner eggplant Patio Baby.

ABOUT ALL-AMERICA SELECTIONS



All-America Selections was founded in 1932 and continues as the oldest independent plant testing organization in North America. Every year, never-before-sold varieties are trialed in our Trial Grounds where professional horticulturists determine which varieties will be deemed winners based on their garden performance.


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