All-America Selections is a non-profit organization that tests new flower and vegetable varieties in gardens across the United States, comparing them to older, proven types. Feedback from the volunteer judges, all professional horticulturists, is compiled to select the top-performing new varieties. Each year All-America Selections announces the latest additions to its lists of best varieties.
For 2024, here are the winning vegetables in the All-America Selections Edible category:
Broccoli 'Purple Magic F1'
This purple-tinged broccoli offers a sweeter taste and more tender texture than your basic green varieties. It proved easy to grow and tolerant of both cold and heat. All-America Selections judges noted that the heads of 'Purple Magic' broccoli were large and uniform in both shape and color.
Broccoli 'Skytree F1'
All-America Selections singled out a second broccoli for 2024. 'Skytree' is a green variety with a tender texture and tall, very upright stems, as reflected in its name. This growth habit makes it easy to harvest. Judges notes that 'Skytree' has a great flavor and a texture that is enjoyable for munching raw, but also makes it very easy to cook.
Pepper 'Red Impact F1'
The third Edible Winner for 2024 is the 'Red Impact' pepper, a disease-resistant variety that produces a multitude of six- to eight-inch-long peppers with a sweet taste. These fruits are fully ripe once they turn dark red, but even if they're picked green they still taste sweet. All-America Selections judges notes that the large size of the peppers made them very easy to harvest, and that 'Red Impact' is versatile in the kitchen.
All images courtesy of All-America Selections.
