Asparagus is dioecious, with male and female flowers borne on separate plants. Studies have shown that the male plants live longer, begin production earlier, are more resistant to disease and significantly out yield the female plants. Although asparagus breeders have recognized the advantages of male plants for some time, they've had difficulty breeding all-male hybrids until Prof. Ellison developed an innovative breeding strategy.

Prof. Ellison meticulously identified the growing and environmental conditions conducive to the development of hermaphrodite flowers. He was then able to use the hermaphrodite flowers to produce seeds for "supermales." Since the supermales could only produce male seeds, this allowed asparagus breeders to produce all-male hybrids. Twenty-one of the all-male hybrids with superior traits such as high yield, high disease resistance, and good spear morphology, were patented. Several of these hybrids, including Jersey Giant, Jersey Knight, and Jersey King, are among the most productive and adaptable asparagus hybrids ever developed and are now being grown all over the world. Prof. Ellison's innovative breeding strategies have allowed asparagus growers to increase their yields and profitability, and have helped to spawn a highly successful New Jersey seed company, Jersey Asparagus Farm, one of the top three asparagus seed companies in the world.