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Harris Moran trials go tropical; new vegetables displayed in Venezuela

Modesto, California
April 16,  2001

Harris Moran Seed Company recently unveiled its hottest vegetable varieties for the tropics, displaying them in Venezuela's most prolific agricultural valley.

Growers from the Caribbean, Central America, and South America traveled to the 10,000-hectare
Quibor Valley to view the latest in disease resistant melons, tomatoes, peppers, squash and
other vegetables.

The Venezuelan field day is part of Harris Moran's continuing regional strategy of staging global
variety demonstrations 

"We hold trials all over the world because growers, wherever they live, like to see new varieties
growing in their own soil, in their own climate, in their own growing conditions," explained Tom
Prata, director of international sales. "It gives them a better indication of the plants' performance and quality."

Growers and dealers saw first-hand varieties such as Karma, a high-yielding fresh market pepper
tolerant to STIP and resistant to RMB. It was being hand-harvested near the Harris Moran
demonstration plots. 

Growers also tasted, squeezed, and sniffed melons like Sparkle, Zodiak, and new Nitro. Nitro is a new western shipper that features Powdery Mildew tolerance to race 1 and 2 as well as resistance to Fusarium, Race 0, 2. This very early shipping melon has a very firm exterior for good shippability along with firm flesh. It appears to be a perfect fit for the tropical growing areas.

Also weighing in was Sparkle, a popular western shipper in Venezuela. It's an attractive full-netted cantaloupe sporting a very vigorous vine that performs well in difficult conditions. Sparkle has the ability to make large size.

Zodiac continues to be a mainstay in the tropics thanks to its size, exterior firmness, and attractive look. It has thick flesh and is tolerant to Powdery Mildew. 

Squash too drew a crowd. Hurakan, a popular grey squash got growers' attention. This high yielder is tolerant to ZYMV, WMVII, and Powdery Mildew.

In tomatoes, varieties like Toro continue to do well by delivering consistent profitable yields. Stallion, another saladette, is nicknamed "the rock" in Mexico because of its superior hard exterior and excellent shippability. This large determinate plant produces high yields of #1
fruit. It has disease resistance to VFFN.

Cucumbers were well represented at the trials. Mainstays like Greensleeves and General Lee continue to make in-roads on the South American continent.

And a new experimental, HMX 8416, promises to be the new up-and-comer as it continues to perform well in tropical trials. This cuke produces high yields, good quality, and very low culls. It's resistant to: Scab, Powdery Mildew, Downy Mildew, CMV, Angular Leaf Spot, and Anthracnose.

"Disease resistance. Fruit quality. Yield. And doing business with someone you trust. This is what our tropical growers want from a vegetable company," said Prata. "And that's what we're delivering."

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 Seed Company 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.

Company news release
N3460

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