FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 4, 2005

 Seed of the Year winner named at Royal Agricultural Winter Fair

 (GUELPH, ON) – An asparagus variety with outstanding performance, sustainability, marketability and industry impact topped entries in the inaugural “Seed of the Year” competition.  

Guelph Millennium asparagus was recognized as Seed of the Year in the competition’s inaugural year, at a ceremony Friday, November 4, 2005 at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto.   

Guelph Millennium asparagus has been on the market for eight years and has proven itself as a high-yielding, high-quality hybrid. Developed by Prof. David Wolyn, University of Guelph, the variety has become a major contributor to the current competitiveness of the asparagus industry and accounts for 70 per cent of all seed sold in Ontario.

 This asparagus variety is known for its ability to sustain high yields over many years, a trait not typical of other varieties on the market.

 Two other finalists for Seed of the Year were also recognized at the event. OAC Kent, a soybean variety developed by University of Guelph Prof. Istvan Rajcan, and OAC Rex, a white bean variety developed by University of Guelph Prof. Peter Pauls, former professor Tom Michaels, and technician Tom Smith, were also honoured.

 Through the Seed of the Year application process, public breeders were encouraged to highlight their research accomplishments in developing a new variety of fruit, vegetables, forages or field crops. In this, its inaugural year, Seed of the Year focused on attracting submissions from public seed breeders in Eastern Canada.

 The competition has been designed by representatives from SeCan, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the University of Guelph. Additional sponsorship has been provided by the Ontario Asparagus Growers` Marketing Board, Ontario Bean Producers’ Marketing Board and the Ontario Soybean Growers.

 For more information contact:

 Owen Roberts, Director, Research Communications

519-824-4120 ext. 58278, owen@uoguelph.ca

 Kim Waalderbos, Student co-ordinator

519-824-4120 ext. 56638, kwaalder@uoguelph.ca