All-America Rose Selections Announces the AARS Region's Choice Program

ALL-AMERICA ROSE SELECTIONS ANNOUNCES THE AARS REGION'S CHOICE PROGRAM

Regionalized approach helps garden centers recommend the best roses for their customers

SAN FRANCISCO, Apr. 2, 2007 - For nearly 70 years, All-America Rose Selections^TM (AARS^TM) has been the trusted name in exceptional roses - having brought to the forefront some of the most popular roses in history, such as Peace and Knock Out®. Building on this experience, AARS is pleased to announce the AARS Region's Choice program to help garden centers and nurseries successfully market and sell more roses, and help consumers choose the very best roses for their gardens.

For the 2008 planting season, the first phase of the AARS Region's Choice program will roll out in three markets - Northern California/Pacific Northwest, Southern California/Southwest and Mountain States. AARS hand-picked approximately ten rose varieties for each region based on their excellent performance in that climate zone. In 2009 and beyond, AARS will add roses to each region, as well as add additional regions for the eastern half of the United States.

AARS Region's Choice roses for the 2008 planting season include:

Northern California/Pacific Northwest

About Face^TM
Carefree Wonder^TM
Cherry Parfait^TM
Crimson Bouquet^TM

Day Breaker^TM
Fourth of July^TM
Gemini^TM
Honey Perfume^TM

Love & Peace®
Marmalade
Skies^TM
Sunset Celebration^TM

Southern California/Southwest

Cherry Parfait^TM
Elle^TM
Fourth of July^TM
Gemini^TM

Hot Cocoa^TM
Iceberg^TM
Julia Child
Opening Night^TM

Secret^TM
Tahitian Sunset^TM
Wild Blue Yonder^TM

Mountain States

Carefree Delight^TM
Carefree Wonder^TM
Crimson Bouquet^TM

Eureka^TM
Hot Cocoa^TM
Julia Child
Lady Elsie May^TM

Memorial Day^TM
Scentimental^TMTahitian Sunset^TM
Whisper

"There are many unique climate zones throughout the U.S., each presenting local gardeners with challenges to consider," says AARS board president Steve Hutton. "From dry heat to lots of moisture and longer winters - these conditions impact what plant will grow the best. To take the guess work out of the equation for the retailer and the consumer, the AARS Region's Choice program identifies the rose varieties that have proven to perform best in each region."
As part of the program, AARS is also offering marketing support through customized and attention grabbing in-store signage to help boost garden center sales and bottom line. Made from weather-resistant materials, and designed to make set-up a breeze, there are a variety of layout options to meet every garden center's marketing needs. Signage will be available for order in last summer.

For more information about AARS Region's Choice, visit www.rose.org/regionschoice, email rose@rose.org or call 415-249-6776.

About All-America Rose Selections (www.rose.org)
All-America Rose Selections is a nonprofit association dedicated to the introduction and promotion of exceptional roses. For nearly 70 years, the AARS trial program has encouraged the rose industry to improve the vitality, disease resistance and beauty of roses for American home gardens. Today, the AARS testing program is one of the most successful and highly regarded of its kind in the world, having brought to the forefront such roses as Peace, Knock Out and Bonica.