Harris Moran expands its breeding programs: opens new Florida breeding station, expands Davis and Salinas facilities

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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