Asparagus Offers Innovative Hybrids, Seed

Asparagus Offers Innovative Hybrids, Seed Walker Brothers Seeds and Plants, LLC., of Elmer, N.J., is one of the world’s largest producers and developers of high-quality F1 hybrid asparagus seed and crowns. The farm has decades of experience in fresh-market production and in asparagus crown and hybrid seed production, and it maintains an in-house tissue culture lab. “Asparagus has been part of our company’s story for five generations,” says Dr. Wenjing Chen, Assistant General Manager. “It’s a perennial crop that rewards patience, precision and long-term vision, qualities that fit our philosophy as both farmers and breeders.” The farm traces its roots to Paul Walker, who began growing produce in 1869. In the 1960s, it supplied eggplant, peppers and tomatoes to Campbell’s Soup. Its transition to today’s asparagus operation began in the early 1970s, when Howard Ellison of Rutgers University visited, seeking a farm that hadn’t grown asparagus before. The family found success with the crop and, by 2000, shifted its focus to breeding new varieties for U.S. farmers and beyond. “From an agronomic standpoint, asparagus is one of the most resilient vegetable crops in the world,” Chen says. “It thrives in diverse climates and soil types yet still has enormous potential for genetic improvement. We see it as both a heritage crop and a frontier crop, one that connects our past to the future of sustainable farming. Over the decades, we’ve built a global network with growers, researchers, and industry partners, all committed to advancing asparagus production and expanding its potential in regions around the world.” Today, the Walker Brothers team focuses on developing new hybrids that deliver high yields, consistent spear size, disease resistance, and excellent flavor. New Jersey soil is prioritized for testing because it provides data on Fusarium infestations, high humidity, and both high and low temperatures. The seed is sold worldwide, and the crowns are sold across the United States. “Because asparagus crowns are long-lived, evaluating persistence and disease resistance requires patience and consistency,” Chen says. “The crop’s deep root system and strong seasonality also make it challenging to replicate results across environments, which is why our global testing partnerships are so important. We rely on coordinated field trials with growers and researchers worldwide to ensure our hybrids perform reliably under different soil, climate and management conditions.” Chen notes that it can take up to 15 years for a new asparagus variety to reach commercial sale, assuming a lot of luck and good experiences. “Unlike annual crops, asparagus is a perennial that takes years to evaluate. From seed to meaningful yield data can take 8 to 10 years. And, because the plants have separate male and female individuals, maintaining breeding populations is much more complex. Each cross represents a long-term investment of time, field space and resources. “Our breeding process starts with selecting parent lines that have demonstrated strength, vigor and adaptability. After crossing selected parents, we evaluate their offspring in replicated field trials across diverse regions. We work closely with our network of growers and research partners to collect multi-year data on yield, spear quality, and field longevity. Only the most consistent performers advance to commercial release.” Looking ahead, the team plans to continue improving its asparagus varieties, including accelerating asparagus production. “Our work is built on decades of collaboration with the asparagus community, from breeders and researchers to farmers around the world,” Chen says. “Today, Walker Brothers’ varieties are grown on every continent except Antarctica. We’re proud to serve asparagus growers worldwide and to be a leading, driving force in the global asparagus industry. Every hybrid we release reflects years of shared effort, innovation and passion for this remarkable crop.”  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Walker Brothers Seeds and Plants, LLC., 327 Garrison Rd., Elmer, N.J. 08318 (ph 856-358-2548; wenjing@walkerseed.com; www.walkerseed.com).

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