At the Global Produce & Floral Show in Atlanta, Sakata Seed America introduced a brand-new product: Purple Magic Broccoli. "It is the first purple-stemmed, purple-headed broccoli in the world," says Matt Linder, Senior Product Development Manager for Broccoli and Cauliflower at the company. The development started in Japan as a "hobby project" by the company's lead breeder at the time, Mr. Manabu Kawamura, and took many years to develop. "It was a very difficult creation," Linder commented. "The purple variety was created by conventional means, breeding via selection over time and it took more than 15 years for the seeds to become available commercially."
The seeds of Purple Magic broccoli are now available in the United States and are being introduced worldwide. The single head type broccoli is suitable for cooler seasons, harvesting in fall and winter at around 90 days after transplanting.
How is Purple Magic broccoli different from regular broccoli? Both the florets and stem are high in anthocyanin, which is thought to be useful in preventing cancer and inflammation. "Regular broccoli doesn't contain a detectable level of anthocyanin." In addition, purple broccoli contains higher levels of polyphenol, an antioxidant, compared to regular broccoli. "Research indicates that purple broccoli can contain 45 percent more polyphenol than normal broccoli," Linder said. "Additionally, like most broccoli varieties, Purple Magic includes glucoraphanin, a very powerful cancer-fighting antioxidant."
AAS award
Purple Magic already is an award recipient. It was chosen as a national winner by All-America Selections (AAS), an organization that assesses new types of vegetables, fruits, and flowers from around the world. "This broccoli has it all," one of the judges said. "From its beautiful purple color, tight uniform heads and bright beads to its great broccoli flavor. This easy to grow broccoli is also tolerant to stress and heat. It is a showstopper."
Matt Linder proudly shows the AAS award.
For more information:
Matt Linder
Sakata Seed America
Tel: (831)809-1585
[email protected]
www.sakatavegetables.com