Feb. 23, 2014

Over a year ago I wanted to publish a web page of all the new varieties the L.E. Cooke Co has introduced to the nursery industry.  I thought that would be a eye opener to those just getting to know us.  I quickly browsed through the catalog making a list and realized that list was getting really long and (in my unbiased opinion) it was impressive.

But I wanted more than just a list, I wanted the history behind each one.  And a lot of that history was in the head of my father (Robert Ludekens) and in his files since he had a hand in bringing the majority of these new introductions to the industry.

So I asked dad to slow down just a bit and write a brief history of each variety.  So, since November, 2013, Dad (83 years young) and Mom (two years younger) have been spending their evenings after long days here at work collecting and writing a history of each new product.  As I write this, they are still compiling facts and writing histories but they have a lot done.  What is completed is being posted now and as more are completed, I will add them.

Introduction comments by Bob Ludekens: History-of-L.E.-Cooke-Introductions.html

L.E. Cooke Introductions

Varieties that L.E. Cooke Co named and introduced (marked with "LEC") and those that L.E. Cooke played a major role in introducing to the trade.  Click on Variety Name for link to history of that introduction (a work in progress).