This Week’s Biggest Stories

These seeds are thanks to George Ball, the 74-year-old chairman and owner of Burpee since 1991, who says “one of the most patriotic things you can do is plant a garden.”

For more than a century, Burpee has pioneered innovative seeds that have changed the way people around the world eat: In 1894, for instance, Burpee introduced iceberg lettuce to the American public so salad could be served all year long. Along the way, it also took the strings out of string beans and sweetened yellow corn so much that gardeners stopped growing white corn. New additions to Burpee’s 2026 catalog include a personal-sized watermelon and easy-growing snacking peppers.

Forbes staff writer Chloe Sorvino has the full story here, and continue scrolling below for more top stories from our award-winning newsroom.