All-America Selections honors two at 2011 AAS Summer Summit

(L to R) Kim Bodger, Masako Arimitsu and Yosh Arimitsu pose for a photo after
the AAS Awards presentations. Photo: Jen Calhoun, Ernst Benary Seed of America

All-America Selections (AAS) honored two horticulturists during the recent AAS Summer Summit in Monterey, Calif.

Kenneth (Kim) Bodger won the prestigious AAS Medallion of Honor, an award designed to recognize someone with a lifelong dedication to advancement in the field of horticulture. Bodger began working at his family’s seed business while still in college, where he threw himself into learning the business. It is widely known that Bodger led a strategic move to focus on breeding back in the '70s, which led Bodger to become one of the leading U.S. seed breeders. But his business savvy was not limited to just the U.S. market, as he was instrumental in establishing Semienes de los Andes (SDLA or Bodger Seeds – Chile) for greenhouse production of flower seed crops.

Bodger also worked extensively with Bodger’s European customers and was known for his impeccable reputation for honesty and commitment. “It was such an honor to be recognized and honored for my career at Bodger Seeds, which was just doing what came naturally and something I always found satisfying and rewarding," Bodger said. "Bodger's contributions to the industry would not have occurred without the efforts of our many fine former employees who are due great recognition and have the gratitude of the Bodger family. The people in this industry and especially those I worked with at Bodger are what I miss most. I truly appreciate this award and thank AAS and the board for this opportunity to see so many wonderful people again.”

The second award, the AAS Breeders’ Cup, was established in 2004 to recognize a breeder who has dramatically influenced horticulture by his or her work in bringing significant improvements to specific flower or vegetable classes.The 2011 Breeders’ Cup Award recipient is Yosh Arimitsu, flower breeder for Bodger Seeds since 1977.

Arimitsu immigrated to the United States and began working in flower seed breeding in the late 1950s. Recognizing not only his work as a breeder, but also as a caring and giving person, Kim Bodger presented the award and cited Arimitsu's work in ageratum, alyssum, antirrhinum, calendulas, delphinium, marigolds, pansies, portulaca, statice, sweet peas, violas and zinnias, among others. 

“I have the combined feelings of honor, humility and gratitude to All-America Selections for this Breeders’ Cup Award. It is especially an honor to have been presented this award at the same time that Kim Bodger received the Medallion of Honor," Arimitsu said. "Together, we worked toward the contributions that Bodger Seed made to the world of flowers and for that, I am grateful and proud of our work.”

The summit event is an annual opportunity for breeders, brokers/distributors, mail order seed companies, seed packet companies, growers, retailers and AAS Trial Judges to network and learn more about recent AAS Winners as well as varieties currently undergoing trialing.

This year the group spent time in the AAS Trial Grounds and the American Garden Award display located at Sakata Seeds and American Takii in Salinas, as well as Syngenta Vegetables and Flowers in Gilroy, Calif. The second day of tours saw the group visit Earthbound Farms, then McShane’s Nusery where an industry panel discussed the merits of an AAS award to the entire distribution chain. The day concluded with a visit to Tanimura & Antle/Natividad Nursery, a 3,000 acre lettuce grower in Salinas.