Emerging Best Sellers - Harris Seeds

A Grower Friendly Company 

presents 

The Ever Changing Market 

for Fresh Vegetables

The Grow Local – Sell Fresh 

Phenomenon 

This presentation will deal with the 

core vegetable species found at 

Farmers’ Markets and roadside 

vegetable stands. All of the varieties 

mentioned in this presentation are of 

conventional breeding techniques. The 

Harris Seeds Company does not inventory or sell genetically 

modified cultivars. 

The information provided herein deals with vegetable varieties 

that we are familiar with in our marketplace throughout 

the USA, and does not include all varieties propagated 

throughout vegetable production areas of the country.

The Staples of the Markets 

Although one can find just about any type of vegetable at 

Farmers’ Markets throughout the USA these days, there are 

species that drive the sales volume (more or less) for these 

agri-businesses. They are: 

• Beans 

• Beets 

• Broccoli 

• Cantaloupes/Melons* 

• Carrots 

• Cauliflower 

• Sweet Corn * 

• Ornamental Corn 

• Cucumbers 

• Eggplant 

• Gourds 

• Herbs 

• Lettuce/Greens/ 

Spinach/ Swiss Chard* 

• Onions 

• Peas 

• Peppers* 

• Pumpkins* 

• Radish 

• Squash – Summer* 

• Squash – Winter* 

• Tomatoes* 

• Watermelon 

*Superstar species

Past…Present…Future 

Within most of these vegetable categories, we will discuss 

varieties that fall under three of the following subjects: 

Varieties with Staying Power 

Tried and true varieties with “Staying Power”. 

Emerging Best Sellers 

Emerging Best Sellers at Farmers’ Markets. 

Predictions for the future... 

Predictions for varieties to come in the near future.

Beans - Overview 

Bean breeding has not 

changed significantly for 

fresh market varieties found 

in Farmers’ Markets over 

the years, and probably has 

had more meaningful gains 

in the processing side of 

the marketplace. Yield and 

disease resistance are very 

important for processors and large scale growers. 

The table quality of some of the old fresh market standard 

varieties remains fairly competitive with some of the new 

introductions of today.

Beans with Staying Power 

Bush Blue Lake 274 

(green bush) Although there 

were many versions of the 

famous “Blue Lake” types to 

be introduced, Blue Lake 274 

is noted as one of the best. 

This one set the standard for 

quality. It has been a grower 

favorite for many decades 

with its tenderness, meatiness 

and flavor of the good 

old days.


Provider 

(green bush) For many, many 

years, Provider has been 

another highly dependable 

green bush variety. It has a 

concentrated set of easy-topick 

straight, tender beans. 

Maturing early in only 50 

days, it has maintained its 

presence in the market as 

one you can depend on.


Espada 

(green bush) ) Introduced 

some 20 or so years ago, 

Espada is a favorite with local 

fresh market growers. It is a 

classy and flavorful bean that 

holds well in the field, and 

picks over a long season. 

A real winner in our mind.


Sungold 

(yellow wax bush) Yellow 

wax beans are not nearly as 

popular as green bush beans, 

thus breeding for this type 

has lagged behind. Dr. 

Michael Dickson developed 

Sungold many years ago at 

the Geneva, New York 

Research Station and it 

remains today as a very 

dependable yellow variety to 

grow. It is vigorous and productive, 

bearing good yields 

of bright yellow pods that 

have slow seed development.


Concesa 

(green bush) This modern 

introduction is noted for 

excellent yields of high 

quality, dark green pods with 

resistance to three strains of 

rust. Pods are set high on the 

plant for easy picking and will 

continue setting beans over 

an extended season.


Caprice 

(green bush) Here is a new 

bean that performs well under 

disease pressure and has 

excellent eating quality for 

hand pick operations. The 

medium dark green pods have 

slow seed development, thus 

holding longer in the field. 

Caprice has displayed good 

heat tolerance.


Savannah 

(green bush) Savannah has 

the preferred darker green 

color for fresh market and its 

yields will amaze you. 

Savannah is widely known 

already as having excellent 

eating quality and resistance 

to many bean diseases. This 

is one we highly recommend.


Rocdor 

(yellow wax bush) This fairly 

recent introduction is of 

European breeding, and is an 

early Sungold type. Fresh 

market growers like it for its 

long, deep yellow pods and 

wonderful eating quality. The 

yields are very good, and it 

has resistance to BCMV and 

anthracnose. You can pick it 

young for the filet market. 

A quality yellow bean.


Boone 

(green bush) NEW FOR 2008! 

As the bean marketplace evolves, 

color is playing an important role 

for consumer preference. Boone 

displays the preferred dark green 

color not typically found with 

older varieties. The dark green 

color of Boone provides a better 

fresh market appearance. Its quality 

is as good as it gets with big 

yields of high eating quality beans 

over an extended season. It also 

has one of the best disease 

resistance packages available. 

Highly recommended.


Crockett 

(green bush) NEW FOR 2008! 

Crockett is where we feel part of the 

fresh market is headed with green 

bush beans. Not only does it have the 

preferred dark green color, it also has 

a smaller 2 sieve size, unique with 

filet type beans. Its very slender dark 

green pods yield well over an extended 

period, allowing you to go back 

and pick it again and again. In fresh 

market vegetable displays, it will 

stand out as a real winner, and customers 

will return for more. Add in a 

terrific disease package, and this one 

wraps it all together for the grower 

who wants the perfect Farmers’ 

Market bean.

Beets - Overview 

There is little breeding work being 

done with fresh market beets these 

days, except, perhaps, in the sugar 

beet market. Quite frankly, some of the 

oldest varieties still remain as the ones 

to grow for the best beet flavor. The 

risk that the Farmers’ Marketplace has 

to endure is the fact that many prime 

producers of seed are dropping many of 

these old time favorites in favor of the 

modern hybrids. Because of this, we 

are seeing concerted efforts on the farm for raising their own 

lots of open-pollinated seed. This on the farm phenomenon 

takes us back to the late 1800s when this was the way of 

life.

Beets with Staying Power 

Long Season (Lutz) 

This open-pollinated beet 

goes way back in time. It is 

big and quite ugly in appearance, 

but its eating quality 

probably goes unmatched. 

It grows slowly, and late to 

mature, but its reward is its 

eating quality.


Detroit Dark Red 

(medium top) This is 

probably the most popular 

beet by name, as it has 

endured throughout the 

century, and for good reason. 

It is an open-pollinated 

beet with good uniformity, 

excellent color and table 

quality. For growers that do 

not want to pay for hybrid 

prices, this is the one to 

grow.


Warrior F1 

This hybrid was introduced 

over 30 years ago, and 

remains as the fresh market 

hybrid to grow. It is quick to 

develop smooth, uniform 

globe-shaped roots that are 

perfectly delicious.


Kestral F1 

We like this hybrid because of 

its dual use. It can be grown 

to full maturity and makes a 

nice bunching beet with its 

bright green tops, or pull it 

young and use it for baby 

beets, often a popular item 

for Farmers’ Markets.


Unfortunately, there have not been any recent introductions 

of hybrid beets, as the breeding efforts for beets 

have somewhat disappeared. Quite frankly, we cannot 

think of any improvements that breeders could work on, 

except for disease resistance perhaps.


Given the fact that beet breeding is fairly non-existent, the 

tried and true varieties will continue to dominate sales of 

beets. Of particular interest is the work being done for 

baby leaf beet greens, which becomes part and parcel to 

the emerging fresh greens marketplace.

Broccoli - Overview 

Within the last 10 to 15 years, broccoli has been appointed by the USDA as 

one of the most healthful vegetable species a family can put on the table, 

and the trend continues. 

Huge production acres of broccoli can be found in the sunbelt states of the 

USA, in Mexico, and in South America. 

The flavor and nutritional values of broccoli have really not changed much 

over the last 20 to 30 years. The most significant changes have been found 

with appearance, color, bead structure, head and stem structure and weight, 

and disease resistance. 

Most modern introductions of today were introduced for single, once through 

harvests, which makes perfectly good sense for large growers. But for 

smaller growers at Farmers’ Markets, varieties that can produce side shoots 

and allow for a longer harvest period might make more sense. 

Unfortunately, one of the best varieties for this use was Green Comet, but it 

was dropped by the supplier because it did not fit the big commercial 

production mode.

Broccoli with Staying Power 

Premium Crop F1 

This variety is widely adapted 

and has good quality for local 

fresh markets. Fine, medium 

sized heads have a fine bead 

and upright plants. High 

tolerance to downy mildew 

and good holding ability in 

the field make it one you 

should consider.

Broccoli with Staying Power 

Packman F1 

This very uniform hybrid is a 

variety that will develop side 

shoots after the main head 

has been cut. Its quality is 

rated very good. A consistent 

performer in the summer and 

fall.


Broccoli can be a very finicky crop to grow as it more 

often than not performs well in one part of the country 

and not so well in other areas. Our suggestion to all growers 

that have interest in growing and offering broccoli and 

do not know where to begin is to conduct a small trial of 

five to six varieties to evaluate performance in your area. 

The alternative is to ask fellow growers about which 

varieties perform best for them. Word of mouth is most 

often the best form of advertising.

New and emerging hybrid varieties 

We can recommend Gypsy, 

Marathon (does well in 

California and the Northeast), 

Diplomat, and Windsor (good 

performers in the Northeast). 

Gypsy F1 

Diplomat F1 

Windsor F1 

Marathon F1


The broccoli market as we know it today probably will not 

change much with type and appearance. Varieties to be 

introduced by breeding companies in the near future will 

look much like the varieties of today. 

Given the fact that Farmers’ Markets often thrive on offering 

locally grown products that can be unique and different, 

we suggest looking at some of the old open-pollinated 

varieties for part of your production, like Waltham 29. 

They still have good quality and will produce side shoots for 

an extended harvest. Although they are harder to find in 

most seed catalogs, some companies still carry some old 

timers.

Cantaloupe/Muskmelon - Overview 

Muskmelons (as they are known in the East) and cantaloupe (the 

western version) have taken a roller coaster ride in quality 

throughout the 20th century. Muskmelon was typically a fairly 

large melon with deep sutures and cantaloupe was typically smaller 

and smooth in appearance. Today, the names are almost interchangeable. 

Some of the old open-pollinated varieties and early hybrids had 

some darn good eating quality, but they were not well suited for 

the evolving shipping marketplace and had little to no disease 

resistance. Breeding for melons then focused on the western shipping 

types (cantaloupes) that were known for their hard exterior 

and poor flavor. 

Well, today, all of this has changed, as breeding companies today 

have some high eating quality melons for local fresh market and 

qualify as shippers as well. Modern melons are noted today for 

having high sugars, great disease resistance and big 

yields…everything a local grower could ask for. There is also a 

concerted effort to bring specialty melons to the marketplace.

Muskmelon/Cantaloupe with Staying Power 

Superstar F1 

At one time the dominant 

melon in the East and Midwest, 

Superstar still is widely used 

for its fine quality. It is a large 

6 to 8 lb. melon with deep 

sutures, fine flavor and big 

yields…a true Eastern type!


Gold Star F1 

This old time hybrid 

established the quality 

standard for Eastern 

muskmelon, and still is a 

favorite with many local fresh 

market growers. Gold Star is 

often used for plant sales as 

well. Use this one to brag 

about that old time flavor and 

quality.


Harper Hybrid F1 

Harper is a cross between a 

honeydew and a muskmelon, 

giving it a unique tangy flavor 

and sweetness that have 

been favored by growers for 

years. They have round, finely 

netted fruit with firm sweet 

flesh.


There has been an abundance of breeding work with 

specialty melons here and in Europe. 

These extensive breeding programs have led to some very 

unique melons for exterior appearance, flesh color, 

sweetness and texture. Many of these “specialty melons” 

have outstanding eating quality, but unfortunately, they do 

not get used as widely as they should. These specialty 

melons deserve to be taste tested at Farmers’ Markets, 

and growers will soon see their sales volume grow.

High quality specialty melons 

Amy F1 

Try this “Canary” type melon 

for its exceptionally 

attractive bright yellow 

exterior and wonderfully 

sweet white flesh.


Passport F1 

This “Galia” type melon is the 

first one to ripen in our trials, 

and has impressed 

consumers with its very high 

sugar content.


Riviera Sweet F1 

If you are looking for a true 

gourmet melon, then this one 

should be grown. It is a 

French “Charentais” type and 

will command top dollar at 

Farmers’ Markets. The 

2 - 3 lb. fruit have deep 

orange flesh and exceptional 

sweetness.


Wrangler F1 

This type of melon originates 

from Italy, thus called a 

“Tuscan” melon. When the 4 

to 5 lb. fruit are allowed to 

fully mature in the field, you 

will find their quality to be 

top notch. The oblong fruit 

have a tan background and 

green sutures, and the 

interior flesh quality is rated 

very high.

Muskmelon/Cantaloupe 

There are many of these types of melons available today in 

the marketplace, and we will mention just a few of the 

more outstanding varieties:


Goddess F1 

It has the typical western 

melon appearance, but its 

quality is far superior to those 

consumers have come to 

know in supermarkets. It is 

very early (a big plus) and 

has terrific sweetness and 

texture.


Rockstar F1 

Rockstar is an eastern type 

shipping melon that will hold 

up to handling at Farmers’ 

Markets. More importantly, it 

has excellent eating quality 

and very good disease resistance. 

The 5 to 7 lb. fruit have 

firm flesh and plants have 

high yield potential.


Lil’ Loupe F1 

This personal size melon is 

perfect for Farmers’ Markets 

as it is exactly what many 

consumers are looking for 

today…single serving types! 

The 2 lb. fruit have firm, 

sweet flesh, and you will want 

to have this one out for taste 

tests with your customers.


Much like what has happened with sweet corn, the trends 

for melons will be improved eating quality and disease 

resistance, and much of this will be present in the specialty 

melon marketplace. Shipping melons probably will not 

be able to compete with the high quality found with locally 

grown, specialty melons. 

Consumers are becoming more aware of these high quality 

melons and will respond positively when they become 

available at Farmers’ Markets.

High Quality Specialty Melon 

Sensation F1 

A one of a kind variety that has 

the taste, texture, sweetness 

and aroma that set the standards 

for new introductions.


Lil’ Loupe F1 

The other trend as we see it 

is the single serving type 

melons that holds true for 

watermelons as well. Not only 

are single serving melons 

much easier to transport, 

they fit perfectly into the 

lifestyle of today’s consumer. 

Lil’ Loupe is a good example 

of this trend.

Carrots - Overview 

Carrot is another species where one does not see a lot of breeding 

activity with USA companies. The large grower shipper market 

in the USA is controlled with 2 very large growers, and little is 

being done with local fresh market varieties. What we are finding 

is the fact that there are many companies in Europe that aggressively 

breed for the European marketplace, and the material we 

see showing up in our markets are the old Nantes and Chantenay 

types, but in a hybrid package. Quite frankly, these types are far 

better in flavor and appearance for the Farmers’ Market trade.

Carrots with Staying Power 

Scarlet Nantes 

This open-pollinated carrot 

has a well deserved reputation 

for flavor and overall 

quality. A good choice for 

local fresh markets.

Carrots with Staying Power 

Royal Chantenay 

For many, many years, this 

open-pollinated carrot has 

been the leading choice for 

upland growers with heavier 

soils to contend with. Even 

when the roots get very 

large, the quality remains.


Nantindo F1 

This is a hybrid Nantes type 

that has a slight taper at the 

end of the root, much like our 

old and popular Pioneer 

hybrid. The 6" to 8" carrots 

have a strong attachment to 

the foliage, making them 

rated high for bunching.


We see many of the European type carrots making more 

headway at Farmers’ Markets. 

Colored carrots (purple, yellow and white) have come into 

play, like Purple Haze, but they do not have the overall 

appeal that bright orange carrots have. 

Baby carrots are quite popular in chain stores, but we all 

know they are not baby carrots at all, but larger Imperator 

types that are turned down to miniature carrots in a lathe 

like process.

Cauliflower - Overview 

The eating quality and flavor of 

cauliflower has not changed much 

over the years. Older open-pollinated 

varieties will taste as good as any of 

the newer hybrids. The gains that 

have been made with cauliflower 

breeding can be evidenced with 

improved foliage cover to prevent 

tying, improved curd types, and new 

color introductions. As with many 

vegetable varieties, cauliflower performance 

can be attributed to 

regional location. It is always best 

to try several varieties before you 

make a decision on which ones to 

grow.

Cauliflower - Grower Tip 

As service and value added products come in to play at 

Farmers’ Markets these days, consider growing the three 

different colors (white, orange and purple), and break the 

heads down into small curds and offer a cauliflower color 

mix in a bag at the market. Color catches the consumer’s 

eye, and should prove popular with your customers.

Sweet Corn - Overview 

Sweet corn is a staple at most, if not all Farmers’ Markets 

and sweet corn growers, over the past 10 years, have 

benefited tremendously from the research and development 

that has gone into this species. There are many top-notch 

breeding companies that have active sweet corn breeding 

programs and the development of new varieties with 

elevated disease tolerances and higher eating quality has 

been tremendous recently. The most recent advances, 

synergistic se and augmented supersweets, have brought 

the highest level of eating quality to sweet corn that we 

have ever experienced. These two new genetic classes are 

the wave of the future and if you haven’t tried any of the 

varieties in these two classes, we urge you to. You will be 

amazed at the sweetness and tenderness that they have to 

offer and the repeat sales that they will generate.

A quick lesson on sweet corn genetics 

Normal Sugary 

Normal sugary (su) varieties 

are the standard types of 

sweet corn enjoyed for many 

years. They are known for 

their creamy corn flavor and 

mild sugars. The sugars 

quickly convert to starch so 

they are best eaten soon 

after harvest. Isolate from 

field corn, popcorn, ornamental 

corn and both types of 

supersweet sweet corn.


These sweet corns contain 

Sugary Enhanced the sugary enhanced (se) 

modifier genes that increase 

sugars and tenderness to 

varying degrees. These higher 

sugar levels result in 

hybrids that maintain their 

quality over a longer period 

of time. Homozygous denotes that both parents of the 

hybrid are se and heterozygous denotes that just one parent 

of the hybrid is se. Isolate from field corn, popcorn, 

ornamental corn and both types of supersweet sweet 

corn. For best results, also isolate from normal sugary 

(su) sweet corn.


Synergistic (sy) sweet 

Synergistic SE corns combine the characteristics 

of both supersweet 

and sugary enhanced varieties. 

The kernels on the ear 

end up being approximately 

75% sugary enhanced and 

25% supersweet. Synergistic 

varieties are not recommended for long-haul shippers or 

processors. Our Sweet Breed hybrids most closely 

resemble this genetic class. Isolate from field corn, 

popcorn, ornamental corn and both types of supersweet 

sweet corn. For best results isolate from normal sugary 

(su) sweet corn.


Supersweets (Shrunken or 

Supersweet 

sh2) contain the shrunken-2 

(sh2) gene and get the 

name shrunken from the 

appearance of their dried 

kernel. Supersweets have a 

very high sugar content, as 

well as a slower conversion 

of sugar to starch. Supersweets may be planted next to 

each other and next to augmented supersweet types but 

must be isolated from all other groups of sweet corn, field 

corn, popcorn and ornamental corn. Do not plant too deep 

(1"-1.25"). Soil temperatures need to be at least 60 

degrees F. for optimum germination.


Augmented supersweets 

Augmented Supersweets 

(shA) are a new generation 

of supersweet corn. Like 

regular supersweets, they 

contain the sh2 gene, but 

kernels of augmented supersweet 

are extra juicy and 

tender like sugary enhanced 

(se) varieties. Augmented supersweets may be planted 

next to each other and next to supersweet types but 

must be isolated from all other groups of sweet corn, field 

corn, popcorn and ornamental corn. Do not plant too deep 

(1"-1.25"). Soil temperatures need to be at least 60 

degrees F. for optimum germination.


Isolation 

“Isolation” as stated above 

can be achieved by planting 

varieties at least 250 feet 

apart, separate varieties by 

an effective wind break or 

10-14 days difference in 

maturity, between varieties 

that need to be isolated 

from each other. If isolation 

is not properly achieved, 

tough, starchy kernels will 

develop on both varieties.

Sweet Corn with Staying Power 

Silver Queen F1 

This is the one that started 

the white corn revolution 

many years ago. Although 

sales have dropped significantly 

over the last years 

there are still many growers 

that use it because of its 

name recognition.


Sweet Chorus F1 

This 67 day bicolor was introduced 

well over 10 years ago 

and allowed growers to plant 

an early variety, with good 

cold soil tolerance and higher 

quality than what was 

currently available. Sweet 

Chorus is still a marketleading 

variety that growers 

have come to depend on as a 

consentient performer in early 

plantings.


Harris 1001 F1 

This Harris exclusive was 

introduced in the late 90s 

and quickly grew to be a customer 

favorite. It is a 72 day, 

bicolor, homozygous se that 

has superb sweetness and 

tenderness. It produces 8" 

ears and is highly recommended 

for growers who 

require high quality to ensure 

repeat business. We will have 

a synergistic se version of 

Harris 1001 F1 available in 

the near future.


Delectable F1 

Delectable has been the main 

season se, bicolor that many 

growers have counted on for 

years. Its rugged plant produces 

good yields of 8.5"-9" 

ears and has good disease 

tolerance. Although an older 

variety, Delectable sales still 

remain consistent from year 

to year. If you have customers 

looking for large, 

fancy ears for fall corn roasts 

and clambakes, then plant a 

late planting of Delectable.


Providence F1 

This variety was one of the 

first synergistic se types to 

take the market by storm. 

Although it has a slender ear 

and lacks the fancy husk of 

other varieties, growers soon 

realized that its eating quality 

was something special. 

Providence soon became the 

flagship variety of its breeders 

TripleSweet®series of 

sweet corn. Very refined 8" 

bicolor ears are produced in 

82 days on 6.5' plants.


This 77 day supersweet bicolor 

Xtra-Tender 277A was one of the first to be introduced 

in the augmented supersweet 

class and it changed the 

way that growers looked at supersweet 

sweet corn. It brought a 

new level of tenderness to the 

supersweets which had always 

been known to have a crisper and 

firmer kernel quality. These traits 

were perceived by many growers 

to be a stumbling block, when marketing supersweets to their customers. 

Xtra-Tender 277A also brought a level of sweetness to the 

marketplace that no one had ever experienced before. To this day, 

this variety is still the one that all others are measured against 

when rating the sweetness of a new variety.


Argent F1 

For a late season white, 

Argent has always been the 

one that most growers have 

turned to. This heterozygous 

se produces very large 8.5"- 

9" ears in 86 days from planting. 

It has always been a 

consistent yielding variety 

and replaced many acres of 

Silver Queen production after 

its introduction.


Revelation F1 

With the introduction of this 

66 day, synergistic se bicolor 

growers now have an early 

variety that brings a new 

level of eating quality to the 

early corn market. Revelation 

will eat as well as many main 

season varieties but will 

mature up to two weeks 

earlier. Its plant type is 

exceptional for an early 

variety and the 7" ears are 

covered well with an 

attractive husk and flags.


Renaissance F1 

This high quality synergistic 

se bicolor matures in 70 days 

and is known for its early 

season vigor, high yields and 

extraordinary eating quality. 

It has set a new standard for 

eating quality in its slot and 

that eating quality will have 

your customers coming back 

again and again for more.


Montauk F1 

If large ears and high quality 

are what your market 

demands, then Montauk is 

the variety for you. This 

recent synergistic se introduction 

matures in 78 days 

and has a superb eating quality 

and tenderness that is 

sure to be a hit with your customers. 

Its large 8" ears are 

set high on 6.5'-7' plants and 

have an eye-appealing dark 

green husk and ample flags.


Cameo F1 

Cameo is the synergistic se 

version of the very widely 

used Delectable. It offers the 

same dependable plant and 

ear size as Delectable but 

with a noticeable boost in 

sugars and an increased tenderness 

to the kernel. The 

8.5”-9” ears are produced on 

rugged 7’ plants. Growers 

using Delectable now should 

try a planting of this fine 

hybrid to compare the two.


Mr. Mini Mirai F1 

Don’t let its small 5"-6" ear fool 

you. This gourmet augmented 

supersweet produces ears that are 

packed with some of the tenderest 

and sweetest kernels you will ever 

sink your teeth in to. Growers 

selling to restaurants will want to 

market this variety as one that will 

“fit on the plate”. Local restaurant 

tests we did here in NY were well 

received by both the chefs and diners. 

You should be able to market 

this item as a gourmet specialty 

item to customers who are looking 

for the highest quality available 

and will pay extra to get it.


Mirai 421 W F1 

When this variety was introduced, 

white sweet corn 

growers were excited that 

they could finally experience 

the latest phenomenon in 

sweet corn breeding. This 72 

day variety gave growers the 

opportunity to offer a white 

variety with the special Mirai 

sweetness, texture and flavor 

that the yellow and bicolor 

Mirais were known for. Its 8"- 

8.5" ears are set at 30" on 

sturdy and clean 6' plants.


Mirai 308 BC F1 

Here we have an early, 71 

day, bicolor augmented supersweet 

with full Mirai sweetness 

and flavor. Its sturdy 

plants have good disease 

tolerance and hold the 8" 

ears at 26". This variety has 

real consumer appeal with its 

high eating quality and large 

ears for an early bicolor. Give 

this fine variety a try – we’re 

sure you’ll be pleased.


Mirai 350 BC F1 

Earlier introductions in the 

Mirai series only offered growers 

maturity choices in the 

early 70 day maturities. With 

the introduction of this 78 day 

bicolor, growers saw the opportunity 

to capitalize on a later 

Mirai market and seized it. 

Mirai 350 BC offers one of the 

best disease packages in this 

series and produces very 

refined, high quality ears that 

have a wonderful eating quality.


XTH2170 F1 

This 70 day bicolor is the 

latest addition into the very 

popular Xtra-Tender series. It 

offers very fine eating quality 

and excellent sweetness for 

the second early timeslot. 

Growers report very high yield 

potential from XTH2170 and 

are very please with the 8" 

ears it produces, for such an 

early supersweet.


Vision F1 

Exceptional sweetness, tenderness 

and flavor are the trademarks 

of this Xtra-Tender yellow 

supersweet. We dare to say that 

this variety has unmatched quality 

from any other variety available 

on the market today. It has set a 

new level of quality that we quite 

frankly believe cannot be beat. 

Its yellow ears are 8" long and 

set at 24" on clean and sturdy 7' 

plants. We can almost guarantee 

that you will generate repeat 

business with this exceptional 

hybrid.


XTH1273 F1 

Maturing a couple of days 

earlier than Vision, XTH1273 

is another exceptional development 

in the augmented 

supersweet class. In 73 days 

you will be harvesting very 

refined ears with bright and 

glossy yellow kernels that will 

explode in your mouth with 

extraordinary sweetness and 

tenderness. Its 8" ears are 

produced on 6' plants.

Sweet Corn Varieties 

These are only a few 

highlights of the many 

varieties we have to 

offer. We carry over 70 

varieties of sweet corn 

and it would be impossible 

to list them all 

here. We invite you to 

visit our website at 

www.harrisseeds.com 

to check out the many other varieties we have to offer or 

give us a call at 800-544-7938 – we’d love to talk about 

sweet corn varieties with you.


It’s hard to imagine that the level of sweetness in sweet 

corn could be raised any higher than what’s currently 

available in the market today. Look for breeders to 

improve sweetness in timeslots or kernel colors that 

currently lack a synergistic se or augmented supersweet. 

Look for breeders to improve disease tolerance and plant 

types to existing high quality varieties. Breeders who 

specialize in sugary enhanced varieties are working to 

convert their best selling varieties to synergistic se 

types.


For most areas of the U.S., bicolor or white corn varieties 

have been the mainstays for many years. Over the last 

couple of years we have seen an increased interest in yellow 

varieties, due to the development of some augmented 

supersweet yellows that have an eating quality second to 

none. We urge you to try some of the new high quality 

yellow varieties that have been recently introduced. 

Varieties like Vision, XTH1273, Mirai 130 Y, and Mr. Mini 

Mirai are hard to beat for sweetness and tenderness. Your 

customers will be very receptive to these varieties and 

that will generate repeat sales for you. It may take some 

sampling on your part to get them to try yellow corn but 

we’re confident that the little extra effort on your part to 

do this will be worth it.

Ornamental Corn - Overview 

For those growers that sell into the fall marketplace, ornamental 

corn is a must at Farmers’ Markets. Many of the top varieties we 

now offer are the result of breeding and selection efforts by 

growers around the country. Major seed companies do not bother 

with ornamental corn, as it is a fairly small market, but 

consumers are known as decorators, and ornamental corn fits in 

with their lifestyle. 

It is very unlikely that we will see new and improved introductions 

of ornamental corn in the future, but perhaps more apt to see 

new strains of ornamental corn originating from a grower’s field 

somewhere in the USA. 

Colorful ornamental corn varieties are the result of constant cross 

pollination, and good strains need to be reselected every year, or 

they will eventually evolve into something far distant from the 

original.

Ornamental Corn with Staying Power 

Wilda’s Pride 

This variety is clearly our 

most popular with growers, 

and it produces big lengthy 

ears with a wide assortment 

of color types, including solid 

and multicolored ears. If you 

only grow one variety, then 

this is the one to grow.


Underwood’s Ornamental 

This is a New England 

heirloom variety that has 

been reselected for strong 

plants and unique color by 

the Underwood family in 

Massachusetts. Its distinct 

color range is ideal for fall 

displays.


Earth Tone Dent 

This variety evolved from an 

heirloom dent corn that was 

originally used for flour. Thus, 

its dried appearance looks 

much like field corn, and the 

strong earth tone colors are 

very appealing for decorators. 

The old tried and true 

varieties will continue to 

dominate this marketplace.

Cucumbers - Overview 

Major breeding companies are focusing their efforts with the big 

acres and on the typical slicers we find in grocery chains. Slicing 

cukes are bred for appearance, fruit quality (which is difficult to 

discern most times) and for disease resistance. Disease resistance 

is probably the single most important character trait for new 

cucumber introductions today. 

Having said that, there are many high quality and unique varieties 

beyond the typical slicers that have strong consumer appeal at 

Farmers’ Markets. Having a combination of both types to offer to 

your customers makes good marketing sense.

Cucumbers with Staying Power 

Raider F1 

Introduced over 30 years ago, 

this dependable hybrid is a big 

yielder of straight, high quality 

cukes early in the season. It 

has been a market leader for 

years.


Marketmore 76 

Developed by Cornell 

University, this 

open-pollinated slicer has 

been a dependable variety for 

many, many years. Used in 

both the Northern and 

Southern USA, it holds its 

shape and quality through 

several picks.


Burpless 26 F1 

Grow this monoecious hybrid 

on a trellis, and for best 

quality, pick it at 8" to 10" 

long, although it will grow 

longer. It carries the nonbitter 

gene, and requires no 

peeling for salads or snacks. 

The eating quality is superior 

to other slicers, and fits the 

bill for Farmers’ Markets.


Sweet Slice F1 

Sweet Slice appears like a 

common slicer, but it carries 

the non-bitter gene and gets 

as close to gourmet for an 

old time introduction. It also 

has an excellent disease 

package, and one that 

deserves a try…sell quality 

with Sweet Slice!


Stonewall F1 

If you are looking for a 

conventional slicer with high 

marks for fruit quality and 

disease resistance, and is 

ready to pick in 53 days, then 

Stonewall is the one to grow. 

This one dominates quite a 

bit of large commercial 

acreage.


Diva F1 

Diva represents a new wave 

of breeding for cucumbers 

that will guarantee the 

highest quality for Farmers’ 

Markets. It is a Mid Eastern 

type that grows 5" - 7" long, 

has very smooth, non-bitter 

skin, and has a wonderful 

texture and sweet flavor that 

rivals the very best. Cut this 

one to sample at your 

market…it will sell!


Intimidator F1 

If conventional slicers are in 

demand at your market, then 

consider Intimidator for all of 

its fine qualities. You can 

expect big and continuous 

yields of dark green, uniform 

fruit in 54 days. Plants have 

one of the best disease 

packages out there.


As disease pressure continues to plague large and small 

cucumber growing areas, breeders will continue to introduce 

varieties with improved disease resistance. 

For the grower that sells at Farmers’ Markets, they can 

expect to see new varieties that have high quality 

European and Mid Eastern background, much like the 

quality you will find with Diva.

Pickles 

Pickles can be a fine addition to any Farmers’ Market, 

as they are often used fresh for salads. Varieties that 

have excellent yields and fruit quality are Regal F1 and 

Sassy F1, a recent introduction. 

Regal F1 

Sassy F1

Pickles 

Cool Breeze F1 

Cool Breeze F1 is one of our 

favorite pickles as it has the 

non-bitter skin, and requires 

no peeling when eaten fresh 

in salads. Its flavor and 

texture will amaze you. It’s 

a good one!

Eggplant F1 - Overview 

Although eggplant is not one of the major product movers 

at Farmers’ Markets, it certainly will add some much 

needed variety and color for sales. When it was originally 

introduced in this country, it was smaller and white, thus 

the name eggplant. 

It originated in Southern India and Sri Lanka, and has been 

cultivated around the world since that time. 

The larger tear-drop shaped purple varieties are the most 

common, but many new Oriental types are now starting 

to proliferate the market. There are numerous ways to 

prepare it, and for this reason, interest with eggplant has 

grown over the years.

Eggplant with Staying Power 

Classic F1 

This is the hybrid by which all 

eggplant introductions are 

measured…it set the 

standard. Erect, vigorous 

plants support big yields of 

dark, purple-black, elongated 

oval fruit. It has been the 

dominate variety for over 30 

years, and is still the one to 

grow. It is not recommended 

for winter growing areas such 

as Florida and Mexico.

Eggplant with Staying Power 

Ghostbuster F1 

If white eggplant has a place 

at your Farmers’ Market, then 

this is the one you should 

grow. Introduced in the mid 

80s, Ghostbuster sets the 

standard for white varieties. 

We believe its flesh is 

sweeter than its purple 

cousins, and it is well known 

for its big yields of 6" to 7" 

pure white fruit on sturdy, 

vigorous plants.


Lavender Touch F1 

This variety typifies what we are 

seeing with more recent 

introductions, although there is 

not much breeding activity with 

this species. Its slender shape 

with unusual and attractive color 

make it a perfect choice for fresh 

market sales. The flesh is mild 

and sweet.


Fairy Tale F1 

This relatively new hybrid was 

named an All American Selections 

Winner, as it is ideal for small 

space production. Compact 2 1 ⁄2 ft. 

plants produce small, elongated 

brightly colored medium purple 

fruit that are accented with 

streaks of white. It is sweet and 

flavorful, and they make a good 

choice for Farmers’ Markets.


Ophelia F1 and Twinkle F1 

Both very new miniature 

hybrids, probably represent a 

trend for eggplant, and a 

trend that is becoming common 

for many other vegetable 

species. Consumers are looking 

for the more unusual and 

unique varieties to serve on 

their tables, and single serving 

sizes are making headway 

with sales. As the average 

household is now less than 

three people, less is now 

more.

Gourds - Overview 

Decorative gourds are the perfect partner with ornamental 

corn. For Farmers’ Markets and roadside stands, they are 

excellent product movers, as they can be painted or sold 

as colorful dried ornamentals in the fall. Best of all, you do 

not have to consider spoilage. Most work with gourd 

breeding is probably done by hobbyists, as major breeding 

companies do not bother with this species. There is a 

wide selection of types and sizes available, and fall 

marketers should always have a selection on hand to sell 

to their customers. 

As a category, there is not a big distinction between the 

older and newer varieties, so we will talk about the more 

popular varieties in demand today, either old or new.

Gourds 

Little Guys Mix 

This has been our most 

popular mix over the years, as 

it offers many types, sizes, 

shapes and colors for fall 

sales. It has been known for 

having a greater variety 

selection compared to 

competitive mixes.

Gourds 

Big Apple 

This is probably the single 

most novel gourd available 

today. It grows to 6 to 8" in 

diameter, and looks much like 

a big apple when dried. Many 

fall marketers will paint or 

decorate it to create some 

added value. Remember, 

consumers are looking for 

product ready to put on the 

table, and creating your own 

decorative gourds will bring in 

some extra income.

Gourds 

Autumn Wings Blend 

One of the more recent gourd 

introductions, this mix has 

become very popular. It is a 

series of small to medium 

size very colorful gourds with 

long necks and bulbous ends, 

and most have pronounced 

wings at the bulb ends. These 

wings give them a very 

unique appearance, and 

consumers snatch them up in 

the fall at Farmers’ Markets.

Gourds 

Koshare Yellow Banded 

This new introduction is from 

one of the few companies 

that does gourd breeding. 

It is a very uniform 4" to 5" 

gourd that displays a variety 

of unique yellow bands on 

a medium dark green 

background. It makes a 

highly colorful presentation 

for Farmers’ Markets.

Professional Vegetable Growers’ Catalog 

Our Professional Vegetable 

Growers’ Catalog lists 15 

varieties of single gourds 

and gourd mixes, offering 

something for everyone. 

Free catalogs can be 

requested by calling our 

Toll-Free number… 

800-544-7938 or by 

visiting our web site 

www.harrisseeds.com

Herbs - Overview 

During the late 1990s and 

into 2000 there was quite a 

bit of breeding work being 

done on basil. The main 

emphasis of the breeders 

was to incorporate disease 

tolerance into this valuable 

herb. Most of the other work 

being done on herbs is 

primarily maintenance work. 

The premiere production 

companies are focused on 

maintaining high quality 

strains of all types of herbs.

Herbs with Staying Power 

Sweet Basil 

Chives 

Parsley 

Oregano 

Sage 

Rosemary 

Thyme


Basil Caesar 

A large leaf basil with leaf 

margins that cup downward. 

This is a trait that is 

preferred in many markets.


Basil Red Ruby 

An improved large leaf, purple 

basil with great flavor and 

eye-appeal.


Basil Picolino 

A very aromatic basil with 

tiny, dark green leaves that 

are produced on a compact, 

bush plant.


Although there is not much breeding work being done on herbs, 

the sales of herbs continues to flourish in the fresh market 

arena. Look for production companies to continue to 

maintain high quality and true to type strains.

Lettuce, Greens, Spinach and Swiss Chard - Overview 

A lot of breeding work has 

been done in recent years on 

these crops. The main focus 

of the breeding programs 

nowadays is on the huge and 

very successful baby leaf 

greens market. The breeders 

are developing dark red, 

almost black varieties of lettuce; very frilly lettuce varieties that 

will add loft to salad mixes; specialty greens that can be clipped 

multiple times with quick recovery and multi-colored Swiss 

chards. Spinach breeding has been focused on the baby leaf 

market, as well as incorporating multiple strains of downy 

mildew tolerance into the varieties.

Lettuce with Staying Power 

Red Salad Bowl 

(red leaf) 

Green Towers 

(romaine or cos) 

Green Salad Bowl 

(green leaf) 

Slobolt (green leaf) 

New Red Fire (red leaf) Buttercrunch (bibb)

Greens with Staying Power 

Santo Cilantro 

A superior strain of cilantro 

that gives that pungent flavor 

to salsa and Mexican dishes.

Greens with Staying Power 

Arugula Astro 

A high yielding, slow bolting 

strain of this popular green.

Spinach with Staying Power 

Melody F1 

A beautiful, deep green, 

semi-savoy spinach for spring 

and fall plantings.

Spinach with Staying Power 

Whale F1 

An early yielder of deep 

green, smooth-leafed spinach. 

Whale has excellent disease 

tolerance and can be used for 

baby leaf or bunched spinach.


Harris’ Mesclun Mix 

A formulated mix that 

contains several different 

varieties of lettuce, Oriental 

greens, kale and spinach. 

Plant in wide rows or blocks 

and harvest at a 5-6” height 

for use in salad mixes.


Harris’ Lettuce Blend 

A formulated mix of red and 

green leafed lettuce varieties. 

Add some other popular 

greens to the mix, to make 

your own special salad mix or 

grow as a showy alternative 

to basic separate red and 

green varieties. Plant in wide 

rows or blocks and harvest at 

a 5-6” height.


Harris’ Micro Greens Mix 

A custom blend of seven 

different vegetable varieties 

that is harvested at the 

seedling stage. This blend 

offers an interesting 

combination of both color and 

texture. Plant in wide rows or 

blocks and harvest at a 2 - 3" 

height.


The greens market will continue to move rapidly towards a 

more specialty market with a heavy emphasis on organics, 

salad mixes and baby leaf varieties. Look for breeders to 

introduce darker and more vibrant colored lettuces that 

have very frilly leaf margins; specialty greens that work 

well in high density plantings and offer quick recovery 

after harvest and highly disease tolerant spinach varieties.

Onions - Overview 

Most breeding efforts are focused 

on short day onion varieties for 

winter production in the south, 

northern long day storage types 

and bunching or green onions for 

the large commercial onion grower. 

Many of the older Spanish 

types like Yellow Sweet Spanish, Walla Walla and White 

Sweet Spanish are still widely used for fresh market and 

Farmers’ Market sales. These tried and true varieties still 

offer the largest sized bulbs and the sweetest flavor. The 

use of transplants has increased rapidly over the last 

several years. Transplants offer you a better opportunity 

to achieve maximum bulb size from a variety.

Onions with Staying Power 

Southport White Bunching 

White Sweet Spanish 

Yellow Sweet Spanish


Onion Transplants 

Due to short growing seasons 

in many areas of the U.S., the 

use of onion transplants has 

increased. The plants are 

shipped direct to you from the 

grower at the appropriate 

time of year for planting in 

your area. Onions from 

transplants offer you the best 

advantage at producing the 

largest size onions in your 

region which will translate 

into better sales at the 

market.


Breeding efforts will be focused on varieties for the large 

commercial onion growers, but this is not all bad. There are 

sure to be varieties that come out of these programs that will 

also work for fresh market sales.

Peas - Overview 

For many years now, pea 

breeding for fresh market 

varieties has not been the 

main focus of breeding 

companies. The biggest gains 

in this crop have been more 

meaningful to the processing 

marketplace. However, there 

have been some recent indications that pea breeding companies 

have seen a need on the fresh market side and an opportunity in 

this marketplace that is of interest to them. Pea breeders are 

working to develop new fresh market varieties and hope to have 

new introductions in the next couple of years.

Peas with Staying Power 

Knight 

Knight has been a fresh 

market favorite of growers for 

years. It is an improved 

Progress type that produces 

excellent yields of 3.5 - 4" 

pods with 6 - 8 peas/pod on 

20 - 24" plants.


Lincoln 

Lincoln set the standard for 

quality over 50 years ago and 

is still the variety used to 

judge the eating quality of 

newer introductions. 28-30" 

plants yield 3-3.5" pods with 

8-10 peas/pod.


Oregon Sugar Pod II 

This is the most widely used 

“snow pea” in the industry. 

The 4" long x 1" wide pods 

are flat and can be eaten pod 

and all. Very popular for use 

in Oriental dishes and stir 

fries.


Sugar Ann 

Sugar Ann changed the snap 

pea market many years ago. 

Before its introduction, all 

snap pea varieties produced 

large, tall vines that needed 

trellising to keep them 

manageable. Sugar Ann’s 

18 - 24" plant provided 

growers the opportunity to 

grow snap peas without the 

labor intensive trellising 

needed for other varieties of 

this type.


Unfortunately, there have not been any recent 

introductions of peas, as the breeding efforts for peas 

has somewhat disappeared.


As mentioned before, pea breeders have a renewed 

interest in developing fresh market varieties and we 

should be seeing new varieties being offered within the 

next couple of years.

Peppers - Overview 

Sweet peppers are a very important crop in many parts of the world, 

including the U.S. Because of this, there are many exceptional breeding 

programs throughout the world focused on this crop. The recent focus of 

pepper breeders has been on disease tolerance and breeders have made 

great advances recently on incorporating multiple disease 

tolerance/resistance into many of their new varieties. Phytophthora, a 

very devastating soil borne disease, and Bacterial Leaf Spot have been 

the main disease focuses of many breeding companies. Breeders have 

developed many high yielding and high quality varieties that are now 

tolerant to Phytophthora and resistant to Bacterial Leaf Spot. 

Hot pepper breeding has had more of a focus on processing varieties. 

This makes sense, since the majority of hot pepper seed is used by the 

processors. However, there are varieties that have come out of these 

breeding programs that work very well for fresh market sales. As with 

bell peppers, the breeders have also been focused on incorporating 

multiple disease tolerances into their new introductions.

Peppers with Staying Power 

Lady Bell F1 

(sweet bell) This hybrid has 

been a consistent performer 

for many years. It has always 

been known to be a dependable 

variety that growers 

could count on under a wide 

range of growing conditions. 

Although it is not as classy a 

fruit type as the newer 

hybrids, it is still used by 

many growers and is quite 

widely used as a bedding 

plant pepper variety for sales 

to home gardeners.


New Ace F1 

(sweet bell) New Ace has 

been a standard variety for 

many years due to its early 

maturity and consistent performance. 

Like Lady Bell, it is 

not as classy as the newer 

varieties but its reliability and 

earliness still make it a popular 

pick with growers.


Jupiter 

(sweet bell) Very few openpollinated 

bells are used in 

production anymore. Jupiter 

still has a strong following 

because of its consistent 

high yield potential of large, 

dark green, blocky fruit.

Specialty Sweet Peppers 

Giant Marconi F1 

Key Largo F1 

Sweet Banana

Colored Sweet Bells 

Early Sunsation F1 

Purple Beauty 

(purple to red very late) 

(green to yellow) 

Flamingo F1 

Valencia F1 

(green to orange) 

(Ivory to orange to red)

Hot Peppers 

Habanero Hot Portugal Jalapeno M 

Hungarian Wax 

Large Red Cherry


Revolution F1 

(sweet bell) Revolution has 

quickly become one of the best 

selling blocky, green bell 

varieties we offer. Large, 

thick-walled fruit, consistent 

yield potential and a disease 

package that includes 

Phytophthora tolerance are the 

reasons that Revolution has 

impressed the growers that 

now use it.


Alliance F1 

(sweet bell) Alliance offers 

the most disease tolerance of 

any variety we now offer. 

With intermediate tolerance 

to phytophthora and 

tolerance to BLS (1,2,3,5), 

CMV, PVY and PMV you have 

the protection you need to 

help ensure good yields. 

Large to extra-large fruit that 

have thick walls and an 

attractive green color are 

produced on strong plants.


Excursion II F1 

(sweet bell) A large, blocky 

bell that has been a 

consistent top performer in 

grower’s fields and university 

field trials. It yields good 

crown sets of 4.5 x 4.5" 

blocky fruit with thick walls. 

The fruit are dark green 

ripening to red and have a 

smooth appearance. 

Excursion II offers tolerance 

to BLS (races 1,2,3), PVY, 

TMV and Tomato Spotted 

Wilt virus.


Summer Sweet® 8620 F1 

(colored sweet bell) Here’s 

a great improvement in the 

yellow bell class. It produces 

very attractive, blocky fruit 

that ripen from green to 

bright yellow on large plants 

that offer good protection to 

the fruit and tolerance to BLS 

(races 1,2,3), TMV and PVY


With so many breeding programs focused on this species, 

we will continue to see many new introductions of all 

types of peppers for many years to come. Breeders will 

continue to work on multiple disease tolerant varieties 

and work to convert those now tolerant varieties into 

resistant varieties. 

The use of hot peppers by the consumer continues to 

grow. Be sure to offer a good selection at your markets 

depending on what your customers are asking for and the 

ethnic makeup of the population in your area.

Pumpkins - Overview 

Pumpkin sales and the whole fall ornamental sales season has 

just exploded tremendously over the last 10 years. The demand 

for pumpkin seed and new variety introductions has never been 

greater than it is right now. The biggest advances in recent 

years have been the development of pumpkin varieties that are 

tolerant to powdery mildew. This devastating disease has been 

a big problem for many growers but now there are several 

varieties that are tolerant to it. 

The traditional jack-o-lantern type fruit is still the best selling 

type but there is quite a bit of interest in the not so traditional 

types of pumpkins like Cinderella, Fairytale, Long Island 

Cheese and the white skinned varieties. Growers now have 

more choices than ever in this species and offering a wide 

selection of colors and types at your market is sure to draw 

interest to your display.

Pumpkins with Staying Power 

Howden 

Although sales of this variety 

have waned in recent years, 

Howden is still used by many 

growers looking to produce a 

20-25 lb. jack-o-lantern. It was a 

selection from the old 

Connecticut Field that was 

developed as a private stock by 

John Howden of Massachusetts 

and released exclusively to Harris 

Seeds many years ago. The fruit 

are very solid with extra-thick 

flesh and is much less apt to 

produce lopsided fruit. Its deep 

orange fruit color has always 

been one of its best trademarks.

Pumpkin Note: 

All of our pumpkin varieties 

with powdery mildew and 

virus tolerance have been 

developed through traditional 

breeding methods. These are 

not genetically modified or 

GMO varieties.


Magic Lantern F1 

The first hybrid to be released 

with tolerance to powdery 

mildew. Soon after its 

development, Magic Lantern 

quickly became the preferred 

variety to grow for a 16-24 lb. 

size fruit. Not only was its disease 

tolerance attractive to 

growers but its space-saving, 

semi-vine plant habit meant 

that higher plant populations/acre 

would translate into 

higher yields/acre. The fruit 

have a beautiful dark orange 

color and medium ribs.


Mystic Plus F1 

Mystic Plus changed the 

small pumpkin marketplace 

much the same way that 

Magic Lantern changed the 

large pumpkin marketplace. 

Its powdery mildew tolerance 

and semi-vine plant habit are 

traits that growers perceive 

as both value-added and 

beneficial. The deep orange 

fruit weigh 7-8 lbs. and have 

a sturdy handle with a strong 

attachment.


Howden Biggie 

For extra large pumpkins that 

command premium prices, 

Howden Biggie is the one to 

grow. It has a true pumpkin 

shape and sits upright with 

shapes ranging from globe to 

tall globe. The dark orange 

fruit have a thick flesh, which 

helps maintain its uniform 

shape and they can weigh 

from 35-50 lbs.


Magician F1 

Magician provided growers with 

a medium sized variety that not 

only had a higher level of 

powdery mildew tolerance but it 

is also tolerant to Zucchini 

Yellows Mosaic Virus. Semi-vine 

plants allow for higher plant 

populations/acre and produce 

good yields of 10-16 lb. fruit 

that have an excellent deep 

orange color, moderate ribbing 

and medium-sized handles that 

are firmly rooted.


Gladiator F1 

Gladiator has quickly become our 

#1 variety. Soon after its 

introduction, growers realized the 

added benefits that Gladiator has 

to offer. The average fruit size is 

3-4 lbs. heavier than our Magic 

Lantern, it has a higher level of 

powdery mildew tolerance and it 

has the space-saving semi-vine 

plant habit that they like. The 

round fruit have a deep orange 

color, moderate ribbing and long 

handles that are thick and firmly 

rooted to the fruit.


Aladdin F1 

Growers looking for a slightly 

larger fruit (25-35 lbs.) with 

powdery mildew tolerance will 

want to check out Aladdin. Its 

dark orange fruit set near the 

crown on vigorous semi-full 

vines, have large handles that 

are firmly rooted into the fruit 

and moderate ribbing. Aladdin 

will command top dollar at your 

roadside market or at Farmers’ 

Markets.


Cannon Ball F1 

Powdery mildew tolerant, vigorous 

bush plants produce good 

yields of 5 lb. round-shaped fruit 

that have an attractive burnishedorange 

color, slight ribbing and 

large firmly rooted handles. The 

fruit are approximately 7" in 

diameter and have good weight 

for their size. Cannonball is an 

excellent item to market to 

school tours.


This segment of the marketplace appears to have 

potential for continued growth, for many more years. Look 

for further advances in disease tolerance to include 

higher levels of powdery mildew tolerance, multi-virus 

tolerance, downy mildew tolerance and phytophthora 

tolerance. New and unusual types of pumpkins will 

continue to be developed. Varieties that are slightly or 

heavily warted and additional hard shell or semi-hard shell 

types are being introduced now and there are more and 

unusual varieties showing up in the breeder’s workshops 

every year.

Radish - Overview 

The most recent advances in 

radishes have been the 

development and introduction of 

hybrid varieties. Hybrids tend to 

be 5-6 days earlier to mature and 

the breeders have also been able 

to incorporate higher levels of 

disease tolerance into their 

hybrid introductions. They also 

tend to hold better after reaching 

full maturity and offer a higher 

level of uniformity to the roots 

over open-pollinated varieties.

Radishes with Staying Power 

Champion 

Cherry Belle

Radishes with Staying Power 

Cherriette F1 

This hybrid Chery Belle type 

produces globe shaped, 

cherry red roots with medium 

tops. Cherriette produces 

good yields of uniform and 

crisp radishes that generally 

don’t get pithy or woody, even 

in larger sizes.


Red Satin F1 

This hybrid radish has 

performed well in plantings 

around the U.S. Red Satin 

produces very uniform, round 

roots that have a bright red 

color, extremely white 

interiors and refined taproots. 

The bulb forms quickly and 

has excellent holding ability 

without getting pithy.


The radish market as it is today will probably not change 

much over time. Breeders will continue to work on 

developing new hybrid varieties and the introduction of 

new open-pollinated varieties is probably a thing of the 

past. Growers offering some of the more unusual varieties 

like French Breakfast, White Icicle and colored radish 

blends are able to capitalize on a segment of the radish 

market that the supermarket and big box chains have 

ignored.

Squash Note: 

All summer and winter 

squash varieties with 

powdery mildew and virus 

tolerance have been developed 

through traditional 

breeding methods. These are 

not genetically modified or 

GMO varieties.

Summer Squash – Overview 

The most recent advances in both zucchini and yellow 

summer squash have been the introduction of multi-virus 

tolerant varieties and powdery mildew tolerant varieties. 

Breeders are also working on developing more zucchini 

varieties like Spineless Beauty that have reduced spine or 

even spineless leaf petioles. Although the multi-virus varieties 

protect the plants and fruit from virus pressures later 

in the season, they do not yield as well as the non-virus 

tolerant varieties like Zucchini Elite and Multipik (yellow 

straightneck). Because of this, we recommend that you 

plant non tolerant types early in the season to realize 

optimum yield potential and virus tolerant varieties later in 

the season for the protection they offer.

Summer Squash with Staying Power 

Zucchini Elite F1 

(zucchini) Developed by 

Harris breeders over 30 years 

ago, this is still the standard 

for medium green zucchini. 

An extra early hybrid with a 

classic cylindrical shape, 

Elite's fruit are best when 

picked 7-8" long, slim and 

have a lustrous sheen. Its 

open plant makes picking 

easy and the yields are 

incredible.


Tigress F1 

(zucchini) Tolerant to 

Zucchini Yellows Mosaic and 

Watermelon Mosaic II Virus. 

Tigress is an early maturing 

hybrid with smooth, medium 

green fruit that closely resemble 

Zucchini Elite. The plant 

offers good cover but is not 

too dense for easy harvest 

and with its multiple disease 

tolerance, it offers high yields 

late into the season.


Multipik F1 

(yellow straighneck) A very 

early and very prolific yellow 

straightneck. Multipik has 

the precocious yellow gene 

which gives it early yellow 

color and yellow stems. This 

gene also masks the 

symptoms of CMV and 

Watermelon Mosaic Virus II 

which can turn yellow squash 

green. The smooth, bright 

yellow fruit are just what 

most markets demand, either 

picked early as a mini or later 

at market size.


Supersett F1 

(yellow semi-crookneck) 

The yield of this smooth hybrid 

yellow semi-crook will amaze 

you. The precocious yellow 

gene gives it yellow stems 

and masks the greening 

effects of CMV and 

Watermelon Mosaic Virus II. 

Its curved neck is thicker to 

resist the breakage that 

troubles varieties with a thin, 

more fragile neck. Harvest as 

a 2" mini or let it grow to a 

6 or 8" length at full maturity.

Specialty Summer Squash 

Gold Rush F1 

Peter Pan F1 

(green scallop) 

Sunburst F1 

(golden zucchini) 

(yellow scallop)


Felix F1 

(zucchini) Felix is a medium 

dark green zucchini with an 

outstanding disease package. 

Its open plant habit makes 

for easy harvest of its classy 

7" cylindrical fruit. With intermediate 

resistance to Papaya 

Ringspot Virus, Watermelon 

Mosaic Virus II, Zucchini 

Yellows Mosaic Virus and 

powdery mildew, growers will 

want to be sure to include 

Felix in their squash 

plantings.


Lioness F1 

(yellow straightneck) 

Lioness is a green-stemmed 

yellow straightneck that has 

a groundbreaking disease 

package that includes tolerance 

to Zucchini Yellows 

Mosaic Virus, Watermelon 

Mosaic Virus II, Papaya 

Ringspot Virus and CMV. The 

medium-sized plant offers 

good yields of straight fruit 

that have a medium-sized 

bulb at the blossom end.


Look for further advances in disease tolerance to include 

higher levels of powdery mildew tolerance, multi-virus tolerance, 

downy mildew tolerance and phytophthora tolerance.

Squash, Winter - Overview 

Breeding for winter squash 

is not a high priority for 

many breeding companies. 

Many winter squash breeding 

projects are kind of a 

secondary project for many 

summer squash and pumpkin 

breeding programs. 

Breeders are looking to 

incorporate higher levels of disease tolerance into winter 

squash varieties. Most advances will result in varieties 

with powdery and possibly downy mildew tolerance. We 

do not expect to see much of a change to this focus in 

the near future.

Winter Squash with Staying Power 

Vegetable Spaghetti 

This unusual winter squash 

produces spaghetti-like 

strands of flesh and adds an 

interesting variety to your fall 

marketing display. The oblong 

fruit are 8-10" long and turn 

yellow when ripe. Vegetable 

Spaghetti is a good keeper 

and can be stored for several 

months.


Buttercup Burgess 

One of the highest quality 

winter squashes you can 

grow. Extra rich and sweet in 

flavor, the deep orange flesh 

is firm and smooth. The 

blocky 6-8" wide x 3 1 ⁄2-4" 

long dark green fruit have a 

small gray “button” at the 

blossom end and grow on a 

full vine.


Carnival F1 

This is an unusual and colorful 

hybrid acorn squash. The 

medium-sized fruit are produced 

near the crown of the 

semi-bush plants and their 

skin is uniquely flecked with 

shades of green, gold and 

yellow; each one is different. 

Carnival stores in fine condition 

for many months with 

excellent eating quality.


Table Ace F1 

Always rated high for its real 

black-green color and its 

thick, bright orange flesh that 

is smooth and delicious. Its 

semi-bush vines are quite 

compact and produce a lot of 

delicious squash in a limited 

space. Stores well all winter.


Waltham Butternut 

This fine Butternut type is by 

far our most popular winter 

squash. Fruit are 8-10" long 

with thick, cylindrical necks. 

Its flesh color is richer than 

others and it keeps better. 

Yielding heavily, it shows 

remarkable uniformity and is 

virtually free of slim or 

crooked necks.


Harris’ Betternut F1 

Where space is at a premium, 

grow Harris' Betternut. 

Medium-sized fruit are produced 

on semi-bush plants 

and their color, texture and 

flavor are rated very high. The 

fruit size is ideal for roadside 

or Farmers’ Markets and its 

restrictive semi-bush habit 

will allow for greater plant 

populations/acre.


Ambercup F1 

Full size vines produce 

attractive deep orange, 

Kabocha type fruit that store 

well all winter. Ambercup has 

high quality and dark orange 

flesh that is exceptionally 

sweet and smooth. It is 

uniquely free of stringiness 

and its rich flavored flesh is 

excellent for freezing.


Autumn Cup F1 

Developed in conjunction 

with Dr. Brent Loy of the 

University of New Hampshire. 

High quality, sweet deep 

orange meat is produced in 

abundance on compact, 

semi-bush plants. Autumn 

Cup has a smaller button 

at the bottom of the fruit 

resulting in more deep orange 

meat inside.


Royal Ace PM F1 

Powdery mildew can 

decimate your acorn squash 

crop, but Royal Ace PM’s 

tolerance now offers you a 

solution to your problem. 

Royal Ace PM produces big 

yields of very high quality 

fruit that are very uniform for 

size and shape. Their dark 

green color holds well in 

storage and its flesh qualities 

are rated very high.


We do not see much of a change coming in the winter 

squash marketplace. However, growers who use specialty 

winter squash like Kabocha, Hubbard, colored acorns and 

other novelty types have seen good sales generated when 

they are tied together with the marketing of fall ornamental 

crops like pumpkins, ornamental corn and gourds.

Tomatoes - Overview 

Like peppers, tomatoes are a very important crop throughout the world 

and there are many breeding programs focused on this species. Breeders 

have made great strides over the last several years in developing multiple 

disease resistant varieties. Some of these breeding efforts have come 

about quite quickly like the development of varieties that are tolerant to 

Tomato Spotted Wilt and Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl viruses. 

For a while, most breeding programs had forgotten about eating quality. It 

was all about breeding tomatoes that looked good and had good disease 

packages, but the eating quality had diminished. We are starting to see 

that trend change now. Newer varieties like our Scarlet Red F1 have all the 

great attributes that the big grower shippers like but offer a fresh market 

grower a tomato that they can be sure will be pleasing to their customers. 

Specialty and multi-purpose type tomatoes have also found a home in this 

marketplace. The grape tomato is a good example of this type of interest 

in specialty tomatoes. 6-7 years ago no one new what they were, but 

everyone wants to grow them now. The saladette or plum types are also 

very popular now. Many chefs and home cooks now prefer this type of fruit 

for their meal preparation and for use in salads.

Tomatoes with Staying Power 

Jet Star F1 

Although developed many 

years ago, Jet Star is still 

quite popular with growers 

looking for tomatoes with 

eating quality and it is still a 

standard for home garden 

plant sales. It is a tremendous 

producer of large, clean 

fruit, quite free of cracks and 

scars. Globe-shaped, with 

bright, attractive color inside 

and out and a very pleasant 

flavor. Indeterminate plant.


Supersonic F1 

For plant sales and fresh 

market, this is a great one to 

follow Jet Star. It produces 

heavy yields of large, meaty 

tomatoes of excellent quality. 

Fruit are deep oblate in 

shape, smooth and quite 

crack free. Indeterminate 

plant.


Mountain Fresh F1 

Mountain Fresh is noted for 

its firmness, uniform ripening 

and fresh market flavor. 

Large, smooth, deep oblateshaped 

fruit have a small 

blossom end scar and yields 

are far above average. 

Vigorous determinate plants 

are adapted to ground or 

stake culture.


Celebrity F1 

This hybrid is very popular 

and productive because of its 

multiple disease resistance 

and tolerance. The large, 

deep oblate fruit are smooth, 

firm and red and are produced 

on determinate plants. 

Celebrity offers home garden 

quality in a commercial 

hybrid.


Roma VF 

Here’s the old standard pearshaped 

variety for paste and 

juice. Large determinate 

plants spread out the harvest 

period but its total yield is 

heavy. Roma has relatively 

high viscosity and soluble 

solids which makes it a 

good recommendation for 

customers looking to make 

or can sauces and juice.


Agriset 8279 F1 

(Tami-G) Its been about 10 

years now, since the grape 

tomatoes took the market by 

storm. Agriset 8279 produces 

1 oz. grape-shaped fruit, that 

are delicious and free of 

cracking, on large indeterminate 

vines. The fruit produce 

in clusters of up to 20 plus 

and are uniform ripening.


Supersweet 100 F1 

This large, indeterminate 

plant yields an incredible 

number of the best tasting 

bite-sized cherry tomatoes! 

They’re produced in clusters 

like grapes for the whole 

season and get high praise 

for their sweet flavor.


Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, Mr. Stripey and Old German 

These heirloom varieties 

represent some of the best 

eating quality tomato 

varieties you can grow. 

Growers who have learned 

to handle the soft fruit and 

provide good growing and 

pest management practices, 

have been able to capitalize 

on the extra money these 

varieties command at the 

market.


Scarlet Red F1 

Many of the newer tomato 

varieties have always been 

knocked for their eating 

quality. Scarlet Red is a fresh 

market shipper with all the 

same attributes as the newer 

hybrids but with a much 

improved eating quality. 

This high yielding hybrid is 

produced on a vigorous 

determinate plant that yields 

extra-large fruit with a deep 

red color, scarlet red interiors 

and excellent firmness.


Crista F1 

Crista is a main season 

variety that produces heavy 

yields of firm and large to 

extra-large fruit on determinate 

plants that offer excellent 

disease protection. The 

fruit ripen to a deep red, are 

uniform ripening and have an 

excellent taste and shelf-life. 

Crista lends itself well to 

stake cultivation and high 

tunnel production.


Mountain Fresh Plus F1 

If Nematodes are a problem 

then Mountain Fresh Plus is 

the variety to grow. It is very 

similar to the widely used 

Mountain Fresh but with 

the added protection of 

Nematode tolerance. Large 

determinate vines offer good 

cover and produce good 

yields of extra-large fruit. The 

fruit are firm and smooth with 

clean shoulders and have an 

excellent uniform red color.


Pony Express F1 

An early, large fruited 

saladette/plum type produced 

on a determinate plant that 

offers excellent yields of fruit 

that are elongated in shape 

and have a dark red color. 

Growers have been impressed 

with its earliness, size and 

yields when compared to other 

varieties of this type. An 

excellent disease package 

helps to ensure that you will 

be able to produce a high 

quality crop of tomatoes.


Sugar Plum F1 

Sugar Plum has been rated 

the best tasting grape tomato 

in our test plots. Its indeterminate 

plant sets heavy 

yields of 1" grape-shaped fruit 

that have a rich red color. 

The firm fruit has a pleasing 

texture and its sweetness will 

generate repeat sales from 

your customers.


With so many breeding companies working on tomatoes there 

should be a lot of new introductions over the next few years. 

Growers should look forward to new varieties with improved, 

multiple disease packages and improved eating quality. There 

will also be new introductions in the specialty types like grapes, 

cherries and cocktail tomatoes. Look for some niche breeding 

companies to be working on improved flavors in pink and yellow 

fruited types, as well.

Watermelons - Overview 

For years the standard seeded or diploid type watermelon 

melon was the king of this species. But, that has all 

changed over the last decade with the introduction of many 

new seedless or triploid type watermelons. The seedless 

watermelon has been around for quite sometime but the 

acceptance and use by smaller growers for local fresh market 

sales came about slowly. Now, seedless watermelons 

are quite widely used in this segment of the marketplace 

and there are many breeding companies devoted to the 

development of new varieties. 

Another recent change has been the development of “super 

pollinators” like our Side Kick. These compact growing pollinators 

take up less field space than using a standard seeded 

variety and produce male pollen early and continuously 

throughout the pollination period. The results are better 

yields and better seedlessness of the triploid watermelons.

Watermelons with Staying Power 

Crimson Sweet 

(seeded) This variety is still 

a favorite of many growers. It 

has shown great consistency 

and adaptability over the 

years. The 15-25 lb. fruit are 

nearly round in shape and its 

red-orange flesh is always 

crisp, has excellent flavor and 

texture and small dark seeds.


Sugar Baby 

(seeded) Everyone’s “icebox” 

favorite type. Its 8-12 

lb. fruit have a unique dark 

green, almost black rind color 

and its flesh qualities are 

always rated high for texture, 

crispness and sweetness. A 

great melon to offer at 

Farmer’s Markets.


Millionaire F1 

(seedless) This is the variety 

by which all other seedless 

varieties are judged, and has 

been for several years now. It 

has always been known for 

its holding and shipping ability 

because of its thick, 

rugged rind. Its flesh color is 

dark pink, solid and firm. 

Millionaire produces 

consistent high yields and 

shows few problems with 

hollow heart.


Gypsy F1 

(seedless) Gypsy offers 

growers earlier maturity and 

better flesh color in a seedless 

type. The oval shaped 

fruit have a Crimson Sweet 

rind pattern and a vivid red 

flesh color. Its fruit weigh 

13-17 lbs. and have a crisp, 

sweet flesh. Gypsy has shown 

good yield potential and wide 

adaptability.


Side Kick 

(super pollinator) This is the 

perfect pollinator to use for 

seedless melon production. 

Because of its compact plant 

habit you do not need to allow 

for any extra spacing in the 

field. Just transplant one plant 

between every third and fourth 

plant in the row. Side Kick 

comes into flower early and 

continuously flowers throughout 

the pollination period. It 

produces small unmarketable 

fruit that are easy to distinguish 

from the seedless variety.


Crunchy Red F1 

(seedless) Fresh cut melons 

at Farmers’ Markets are a 

great way to catch your customer’s 

attention and there is 

no better melon for this than 

Crunchy Red. Its very firm 

and crisp flesh holds up well 

after cutting, has a good red 

color, high sugars and good 

seedlessness. The fruit weigh 

15-18 lbs., have a Crimson 

Sweet rind pattern and a 

thick flesh that allows for 

good handling and storage 

ability.


Solitaire F1 

Personal size fruits and 

vegetables are a growing 

trend and Solitaire is the perfect 

seedless watermelon to 

fit this trend. 3.5 - 4 lb. fruit 

are round in shape and have a 

dark green rind with thin light 

green stripes. Cut one of 

these open and you’ll find a 

deep red flesh that has a 

crisp, fine grained texture 

and superb sweetness.


The market will continue to move towards more 

acceptance of seedless watermelon varieties. The breeding 

companies will continue to develop varieties with better 

flesh color, firmness and eating quality. Disease pressures 

will force breeders to develop varieties with multiple 

disease tolerance packages.

Emerging Best Sellers - Harris Seeds

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