P A R S N I P

Above: 'Andover' parsnip is named after the Anoka County truck farming area where tons of parsnips, carrots and other vegetables are grown each year. It has become a leading U.S., Canadian, and European variety and is resistant to brown canker, a common root disease. Andover has long, slender roots and a small, rounded, raised crown.

P O T A T O E S

Potatoes are grown on 80,000 acres each year, and Minnesota is a leading producer of seed potatoes, ranking third in the nation. Each year, U of M scientists evaluate thousands of potential varieties with improved traits.

'Honeybush' muskmelon is an early maturing, short vine or bush variety that Burpee featured for home gardeners in 1983.

P E A S

In the 1970s-1990s, classical plant breeding methods at the University produced green garden pea and sweet corn varieties as improved, early maturing gene sources especially resistant to insects and diseases.

NEARLY 80 YEARS AGO, 'Kitchenette' - an early maturing winter squash - was the first vegetable introduced from the vegetable breeding program of the U of M Agricultural Experiment Station. Since then, numerous vegetables have been introduced, with improved disease resistance and early maturity suitable for growing in our North Central region. These new gene sources use less garden and agricultural chemicals. 'Mincu' cucumber, 'Minnesota Midget' muskmelon, 'Greengold' and 'Rainbow' winter squash, are heirloom or historical varieties that are still sold by specialty growers.