Philip W. Ashcraft, president of Harris Moran Seed Company, has announced he will step down and semi-retire effective September 1.

Ashcraft, whose tenacity and leadership helped grow Harris Moran into a dominant player in the vegetable seed industry, will begin a career as a consultant within the ag industry. Among other projects, he will continue to represent Harris Moran in major industry associations and government relations as a senior advisor. He will also assist with legal affairs, the development of partnerships, mergers and acquisitions.

No replacement has been named at this point. For now, Ashcraft’s duties will be dispersed among senior management. Bruno Carette, Harris Moran’s chief operating officer, will continue to run the Modesto, CA-based company as Ashcraft moves on with his new endeavor.

This new arrangement will allow Ashcraft time to pursue other business and personal interests.

"Some might say it’s been hard, grueling work. But like most people in agriculture, my work has been more a labor of love," says Ashcraft. "We’ve witnessed a paradigm shift in our industry, from people selling seed off tailgates to people selling biotech products that will ultimately help feed the world. I’m honored to be helping in this exciting period."

Jean-Charles Ganas, former COO of Harris Moran who worked with Ashcraft, called him "a talented leader and a gentleman." Ganas now works for Groupe Limagrain, the French vegetables seed company that owns Harris Moran, Vilmorin, and Clause.

The son of a vegetable farmer, Ashcraft joined the company in 1990 as president after more than 25 years experience in agriculture.

During his regime at Harris Moran, the New Jersey native focused on teamwork, individual empowerment, and internal efficiency. Improvement in these areas put the company on solid financial footing for the first time in many years.

When Harris Moran merged with Ferry-Morse in 1997, Ashcraft’s duties shifted toward industry public relations and product liability issues. Using a network developed through his career-long leadership in industry associations, Ashcraft tackled seed-related issues, policies, and laws. Even now he is helping shape legislation regarding the next generation of seed evolution, biotechnology and intellectual property.

His service on many industry-related boards includes: Past president of the California Seed Association; immediate past Western regional vice president of the American Seed Trade Association; current president of the American Seed Research Foundation, and member of the advisory board of the new Biotechnology Center at the University of California at Davis. Earlier in his career he served as stockholder representative for CF Industries, a member of the Allied Seed Cooperative, Inc. and the National Fertilizer Development Center; president and chairman of the Board of Seedway, Inc.; as well as serving as a board and executive committee member of the Fertilizer Institute; and a member of the board of directors for the San Francisco French-American chamber of commerce.

Before coming to Harris Moran, Ashcraft’s experience included managing a chain of lawn and garden centers and directing the manufacture, production, and distribution of fertilizer, chemical and seed products for one of the nation’s largest suppliers where he served as corporate vice president.

Ashcraft is an active participant in community affairs as well. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of New York’s Upstate Medical Center. He also served as first vice president of the Everson Museum Board of Trustees, as well as chairman of the marketing committee of the Board of Directors of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra.

Ashcraft and his wife Lois live in San Ramon, California. They have two grown children and three grandchildren.

Harris Moran Seed Company is a global leader in quality vegetable seed.

Company news release
N2783