Texas

Dr. Leonard Pike was honored recently with the President's Award from the Texas Vegetable Association.

Pike, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station vegetable breeder, was recognized at the 2005 Texas Produce Convention and Expo.

The Arkansas native became known internationally for developing the 1015 Supersweet onion in 1983. That variety is grown in the United States, New Zealand, Chile, Australia and Mexico.

"The economic impact of this onion is about $320 billion," said Dr. Bhimu Patil, current director of the Texas A&M University Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center in College Station.

Pike also has developed many varieties of cucumbers, sweet potatoes and carrots, including the popular maroon Beta Sweet which is known for its high level of healthy beta carotene. He has obtained more than $3.2 million in commodity and industry grants for breeding programs and has been project leader for U.S. Department of Agriculture grants totaling $2 million from 2002-2004.

He joined the Texas A&M University soil and crop sciences department in 1968 as an assistant professor and vegetable breeder. Pike was instrumental in the formation of the horticultural sciences department in 1976.

He has traveled throughout the world conducting vegetable research and was the first director of Texas A&M's Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center.

The Texas Produce Association, formed in 1942, includes growers, domestic shippers, import shippers, specialty shippers, distributors, and material and service providers.

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Dr. Leonard Pike, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station vegetable breeder (Photo courtesy of Texas Agricultural Experiment Station)

Date: 8/25/05