November 15, 2002
To further align our breeding
programs with our key growing areas and to serve our customers
better, Harris Moran Seed
Company is expanding its flagship Davis, California
facility, its breeding programs in Salinas, and creating a
year-round breeding
station in southwestern Florida.
"It's
research by design," said Jeff McElroy, vice-president of
research, who's spearheading the five-year expansion program.
"These projects bring our breeding programs closer to our
markets. For example, our Florida presence will mean new
products for the southeast. It also will allow selection of
germplasm across those subtropical markets that constitute our
future, such as Central America and South America."
To bolster our presence in the burgeoning southeast vegetable
market, Harris Moran's new Florida station will feature breeding
programs for all crops except lettuce and carrots. The recently
chosen 6.5-acre site near Immokolee will give
Harris Moran year-round breeding capabilities.
"We're negotiating the lease on the land now. Expect the
breeding station to be up-and-running within two years," said
McElroy.
In Davis, construction continues on Harris Moran's main research
facility. The headhouse and lab are complete. Construction on
the breeder greenhouses and office building will begin this
year, said McElroy. With its 35 researchers, Davis is the
central research and development center for hot arid climates.
As for Salinas, the consolidation of the recently sold San Juan
Bautista facility is done. The only thing left to complete is
finding a breeding site for lettuce and broccoli. The search is
on for land in the Salinas area. "Once established, it will put
us in the heart of the business: Salinas, Yuma, and Huron," said
McElroy.
The five-year, $5 million research projects may seem like an
increase in research spending, he said. But it's the same annual
budgeted dollars.
"It's a $5 million investment in innovation," he said. "These
changes to our R&D are meant to speed, improve, and streamline
Harris Moran's research efforts. The goal is better products
faster, which means better service to our customers.
Harris Moran Seed Company is part
of the largest independently owned seed company in the world. It
is owned by Groupe Limagrain, a French cooperative owned, run,
and operated by French farmers.
Harris Moran breeds innovative vegetable varieties designed to
boost yield, reduce chemical inputs, and increase, freshness,
flavor and fruit quality from plow to plate. The Modesto,
CA-based company breeds vegetables for markets in more than 65
countries.
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