Why Utilize the AAS Trials
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Prestige
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Increased Sales
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Enhanced Visibility
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Consumer Marketing Support
Video explaining new AAS Trials
2021 brought some interesting and exciting changes to the AAS Trials and to our scoring methods. Watch and listen to this video for complete details.
Publicity about AAS Winners
Publicity and overall awareness of AAS winners is at an all time high. More and more newspapers, blogs, websites and magazines are featuring AAS Winners than ever before. This is because of our strong grassroots efforts to explain what the AAS brand logo means. “Tested Nationally & Proven Locally” and “The Proof is in the Plant” are the two taglines associated with the AAS brand. We now have more Display Gardens than ever before and those gardens are very engaged with our program.
How to Enter
1. Complete the official AAS entry form in detail. See forms at the top of this page.
2. Email entry form, as an Excel file, to the AAS office by November 1 for Edible and Ornamental trials. Email the Perennial entry form, as an Excel file, to AAS office by September 1. Please use a separate entry form for each entry.
3. One or two 300 DPI JPEG digital images must accompany each entry form. Send this to the AAS Office by email with your entry application. More details on image submission are on the entry form. Do not send seed or cuttings with entry form. Instructions will follow after your entry is processed.
4. For edible entries, certain classes must have phytosanitary assay tests. Details are in the Instruction tab of the Edible entry form. Send copy of the assay report to AAS office.
5. Upon receipt of your entry, the AAS office will send an invoice for each entry. Invoices are due upon receipt. Pay by check or bank draft in U.S. dollars, drawn on a U.S. Bank. Wire transfer information is included on the entry forms.
1. Edibles
This trial evaluates edible entries on qualities such as flavor, yield, earliness, plant habit, texture, disease and pest resistance and more. Breeders can choose to trial in containers or in-ground. Edible entries must be new, never before sold in the North American Home Garden Market as of the date the entry forms are due. NEW! Entries can be introduced to the market and sold starting the day after the entry deadline. Entry deadline: November 1.
A short and precise explanation of how this trial works:
An informative graphic on the timeline for edible entries, trials and Winner announcements:
2. Ornamentals
This trial is for entries that are propagated by seed or non-seed methods. The entries and comparisons are trialed either in-ground or in containers (breeder’s choice) and are judged on the traits the breeder suggests in addition to standard expectations for those plant classes. Entries must be new, never before sold as of the date the entry forms are due. NEW! Entries can be introduced to the market and sold starting the day after the entry deadline. Entry deadline: November 1.
A short and precise explanation of how this trial works:
An informative graphic on the timeline for ornamental entries, trials and Winner announcements:
3. Perennials
This trial lasts over three winters. Entries can be propagated from seed, vegetative cutting, tissue culture or bare root. Entry deadline is September 1 and all entries will be planted early the following year and are expected to survive three winters. Perennial entries must be new, never before sold as of the date the entry forms are due.
A short and precise explanation of how the Perennial Trial works:
An informative graphic on the timeline for perennial entries, trials and Winner announcements:
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is All-America Selections?
All-America Selections is the oldest, most established independent, non-profit testing organization in North America for ornamentals, edibles and perennials. We trial edibles/vegetables grown from seed, ornamentals propagated from both seed and non-seed means and perennials (as first-year flowering or in a 3 winter trial). Breeders choose if their entry is trialed in containers or in-ground.
Why Should I Enter the AAS Trials?
a) To receive a written objective evaluation on the performance of your entry by experienced horticulturalists, the AAS Judges.
b) To trial your new unsold cultivar at independent test sites across North America.
c) To win the prestigious AAS Award. Winners of the AAS Award demonstrate superior garden performance and are recognized worldwide as varieties with outstanding vigor, quality and productivity under a wide range of environmental conditions.
d) AAS launches an extensive publicity program as outlined below. By becoming a prestigious AAS Winner, your variety is the beneficiary of a wide range of promotional activities. The first year is the most intense phase of promotion in order to successfully launch your new AAS Winner. Beyond the first year, there remains a consistent effort to keep AAS Winners top of mind. In fact, the promotions continue long after the assessment time frame because once an AAS Winner, always an AAS Winner. We often receive requests for photos and other information on winners that are ten, twenty or even 50 years old!
What Publicity Can I Expect to Receive If I Win?
All AAS Winners receive the following publicity. For top revenue-generating Winners (those paying over $10,000/year in assessments) there are additional promotional opportunities as listed below.
For AAS Winners that generate between $10,000-$15,000/year, they can choose one of the following (in addition to the promotion chart above):
Option 1: Advertising credit of $1,000 toward breeder’s promotion of this variety
- Advertisement must include the AAS logo and explanation of why that variety won the AAS award
Option 2: Social media/Pinterest campaign
- Includes all coordination, post writing and schedule plus $500 in paid promotion
Option 3: Newswire article about this Award-winning variety, how it was trialed, special features, etc., written by an AAS author-partner
- Typical article written and distributed on the newswire gets 150-250 newspaper pickups
For AAS Winners that generate between $15,000-$20,000/year, they can choose one of the following (in addition to the promotion chart above):
Option 1: Advertising credit of $2,000 toward breeder’s promotion of this variety
- Advertisement must include the AAS logo and explanation of why that variety won the AAS award
Option 2: Social media/Pinterest campaign
- Includes all coordination, post writing and schedule plus $1,000 in paid promotion
Option 3: Newswire article about this Award-winning variety, how it was trialed, special features, etc., written by an AAS author-partner PLUS “Story Behind the Story” e-newsletter and blog on AAS website
- Typical article written and distributed on the newswire gets 150-250 newspaper pickups
What are the Criteria for Introduction and Acceptance of the AAS Winner Designation?
AAS requires that the following criteria be submitted to the AAS office at least two weeks prior to each Board of Directors meeting where new Winners are approved. A form can be found here.
- Full, complete marketing name (including all trademarks, patents, etc).
- A minimum of one (1), maximum of five (5) digital image(s) of the cultivar (for PC and MAC) 300 DPI RGB JPEG. These images will be used extensively by AAS and by the garden media. Please send your highest quality images. PREFERABLE: Up to five (5) images of the cultivar in various settings such as: 1) Close-up, 2) Container, 3) Landscape, 4) “Glamour” shot (your choice, can be a culinary shot for vegetables) and 5) In a combination or mixed container.
- For Seed Entries: Estimated total quantity of seed that will be sold to the home garden seed industry (includes mail order seed sales, packets sales and bedding plant sales) in North America (U.S. and Canada) the first 12 months from introduction date, stated in both weight AND seed count.
- For Non-Seed Entries: Estimated total quantity of cuttings that will be sold to the home garden industry (includes mail order plant sales, bedding plant sales, etc.) in North America (U.S. and Canada) the first 12 months from introduction date.
- Current inventory – Seed and cutting inventory should be equal to or greater than the quantity needed for the first year of sale. Seed varieties should be stated in weight AND seed count. To be considered by the AAS Board, the entrant must have 100% of expected first year sales in inventory.
- Breeder must verify that the AAS Winner seed is in inventory and available for immediate shipment to distributors in North America. Breeder must verify that there is enough cuttings in production and will be available for shipment. Winners must pass all plant health requirements for the U.S. and Canada.
- Seed varieties must provide a laboratory germination test (done on blotter or soil) certificate signed by a registered seed technologist.
- Also for seed varieties, the AAS Board would like an indication of the seed enhancement, if any, (pelleted, encrusted, primed, treated) or will the seed be sold untreated? If the seed is to be enhanced, are those processes complete and the seed ready to sell? AAS (seed) Winners must be available as untreated seed.
- The quantity that will be sold the first year can be affected by price. The AAS Board would like a general indication of pricing such as, “the same as F1 Hybrid petunia,” or “higher than normal F1 Hybrid petunia pricing.” Or “Value priced, average price, premium price, etc.”
- Completion of the Winner Introduction Details form, with complete variety details for the AAS website. This in-depth variety information will remain on the AAS website well beyond the assessment time period.
- CRITERIA FOR SPECIFIC VEGETABLE CLASSES: All cucurbit, watermelon, melon and brassicas must provide proof of seed health testing prior to introduction. This information is submitted to the AAS Board of Directors for the introduction decision.
Where Are the Entries Tested?
See a list of all AAS Judges and their AAS judge biographies.
What Should I Be Doing During the Trial Year?
All entries CAN be sold after you have submitted your entry to AAS for trialing. This is a perfect time to make them available as exclusives if desired. However, if your entry becomes an AAS Winner, exclusives are no longer allowed.
It is very important that you do not discuss your AAS entry or entries with anyone outside of your company for the period that the trials are being conducted. Trials are anonymous even though you can sell the entered variety while it is being trialed.
Your final entry description form will be sent to you within four to eight weeks after the entry deadline. The official AAS code given to your entry will appear on the form along with the comparison(s) chosen. You can visit any AAS Trial Ground and locate your entry by the AAS code, but do not give the judge any indication which entry is your breeding.
Plan to increase the production of seed or cuttings in the event your entry becomes a potential AAS Winner.
Take high-quality professional photography in the event that your variety scores enough points to become an AAS Winner.
For any entries that are introduced commercially after submission to the AAS Trials, breeders cannot refer to AAS in any manner when marketing those varieties. Only after the trial is completed, the entry scores high enough to become an AAS Winner, criteria are met and the announcement is made by AAS, may the breeder associate that variety as an AAS Winner.
When and How Will I Be Notified If My Entry Is Being Considered for an Award?
The award is based on the average score given to an entry by all Judges. You will be notified of the trial results by the Executive Director in mid-October for the edible and ornamental trials. For the perennial trial, you will be notified in June of the fourth year after entering.
When Is a Variety Introduced as an AAS Winner?
The breeder or entrant decides when the variety is ready to be submitted to the AAS Board for introduction consideration based on fulfilling the criteria for introduction. See above for more information on criteria.
November Introduction The AAS Board reviews the submitted criteria and decides on the introduction. If approved, the variety can be introduced immediately in early to mid-November. An email announcement is sent to all audiences and seed sales commence on that date.
January/February Introduction If a November introduction is not feasible, completed criteria can be submitted to the AAS Executive Director by January 1 for introduction at the next AAS Open Meeting. An email announcement is sent to all audiences immediately after that meeting and seed sales commence on that date.
Summer Introduction In order to qualify for a Summer Introduction, all criteria must be submitted to the AAS Executive Director by June 1. The Winners will be announced in early July. An email announcement is sent to all audiences and seed sales commence on that date.
What Is an AAS Holdover?
A holdover is a variety that has been tested, received a sufficiently high average score to be considered for an award, but has not yet met the criteria for introduction.
How Much Am I Required to Pay AAS for an AAS Winner?
Seed Ornamentals
Assessments are 10% of net sales for five years with a minimum/maximum of $2,400/$20,000 per year. Regional Winners are assessed as listed in the following chart:
| Region | Percent | Minimum | Maximum |
| 1 | 2% | $1,200 | $10,000 |
| 2 | 4% | $1,440 | $12,000 |
| 3 | 6% | $1,680 | $14,000 |
| 4 | 8% | $1,920 | $16,000 |
| 5/6 National | 10% | $2,400 | $20,000 |
Non-Seed Ornamentals
Assessments are 10% of royalties for three years with a minimum/maximum of $1,200/20,000 per year. Regional Winners are assessed as listed in the following chart:
| Regions and % | Minimum | Maximum | |||
| 1 region: 1.5% | $480 | $4,000 | |||
| 2 regions: 3% | $600 | $5,000 | |||
| 3 regions: 4.5% | $720 | $6,000 | |||
| 4 regions: 6% | $840 | $7,000 | |||
| >4 regions: 10% $1,200 | $20,000 | ||||
Edibles
Assessments are 7% of net sales for seven years with a minimum/maximum of $1,680/$14,000 per year. Regional Winners are assessed as listed in the following chart.
| Region | Percent | Minimum | Maximum |
| 1 | 1.5% | $ 960 | $ 8,000 |
| 2 | 3% | $1,200 | $10,000 |
| 3 | 4.5% | $1,380 | $11,500 |
| 4 | 6% | $1,560 | $13,000 |
| 5/6 National | 7% | $1,680 | $14,000 |
Perennials
Trial assessments are 10 percent of sales or royalties on sales for seed, vegetative or tissue culture perennials over a five year period, with a minimum of $1,200 per year and a maximum of $20,000 per year for a five year period. If the perennial trial winner is a bare root entry, the perennial assessment is one percent of wholesale sales with a minimum of $1,200 and a maximum of $20,000 per year for a five year period. Regional Winners are assessed as listed in the following chart.
| Regions and % | Minimum | Maximum | |||
| 1 region: 1.5% | $480 | $4,000 | |||
| 2 regions: 3% | $600 | $5,000 | |||
| 3 regions: 4.5% | $720 | $6,000 | |||
| 4 regions: 6% | $840 | $7,000 | |||
| >4 regions: 10% $1,200 | $20,000 | ||||
Does AAS Offer Protection to My Variety If It Wins an Award?
No. The only protection for a new variety is to apply for Plant Variety Protection available from USDA. Learn more about Plant Variety Protection.
Important Dates
KEY:
Bold dates are hard deadlines
Italicized dates are FYI dates
January
10 – AAS Holdover info due for January introduction
<>31 – AAS January Winner introduction: sales commence
May
1 – Begin thinking about submissions for AAS Trials
15 – Invitation to enter AAS Trials (Perennial Trial deadline Sept. 1)
June
1 – Plan which varieties in your breeding pipeline can be submitted for AAS Trials
10 – AAS Holdover info due for July introduction
15 – Invitation to enter AAS Trials (Perennial Trial deadline Sept. 1)
July
1 – AAS July Winner introduction: sales commence
1 – Finalize which perennials can be entered for AAS Trials
15 – Invitation to enter AAS Trials (Perennial due Sept. 1, all others due Nov. 1
August
15 – Invitation to enter AAS Trials (Perennial due Sept. 1, all others due Nov. 1)
September
1 – AAS Perennial Entries Due
15 – Reminder to enter AAS OS, OV and ED trials (deadline Nov. 1)
October
1 – AAS Score Sheets Due for OS, OV and ED trials
15 – Final reminder to enter AAS Trials
15 – AAS alerts breeders if their entries scored high enough to be potential winners
November
1 – AAS OS, OV and ED Entries Due
1 – AAS Holdover info due for November introduction
20 – AAS November Winner introduction: sales commence
AAS Winners