Beekenkamp pulls out of CAST 2020

In a statement issued early Thursday, Dutch breeder Beekenkamp announced that it is no longer participating in the 2020 California Spring Trials. Their stop, scheduled to be held at Floricultura in Salinas, California, was also scheduled to be home to ABZ Seeds and Monrovia.

The withdrawal comes after President Donald Trump announced Wednesday evening that travel from Europe to U.S. was banned for a 30-day period in an effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Beekenkamp statement reads as follows:

"To our regret,  we would like to inform you that Beekenkamp, Monrovia and ABZ seeds cancels their participation for CAST2020, which was supposed to be held at the Floricultura location in Salinas. In this way, we want to reduce overall risk associated with the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

In the near future, we will make sure that you will be informed via an alternative way of the what Beekenkamp was supposed to present at CAST 2020."

Providing this global situation will be under control in the near future, Beekenkamp would like to welcome you at the FlowerTrials 2020 in week 24, at our location in Maasdijk, the Netherlands."

Beekenkamp's exit adds them to a growing list of companies, including Syngenta Flowers and Sakata Seed America, that are no longer participating in the event due to ongoing health concerns surrounding the coronavirus. The latest information on CAST is available here.