National Garden Bureau members host California Summer Vegetable Trials

DOWNERS GROVE, ILL.. – In what is a now a yearly tradition, vegetable breeding companies dealing in the Fresh Market and Home Garden segments are hosting the Summer Vegetable Trials via open houses and field days. This event is hosted by five breeders in seven locations from Aug. 14-19, 2017. Modeled after the long-standing California Spring Trials that are held annually in California during the month of April, attendees will have the opportunity to visit breeder trial sites throughout the state in the month of August. 

Customers, growers and the media can contact each company below to arrange their visit. Please note that not all stops are open all days. Visits will focus on observing new varieties in a field or garden setting and learning about new breeding and marketing opportunities from respective hosts.

National Garden Bureau, the non-profit organization promoting gardening on behalf of the horticulture industry, is pleased to organize and publicize this event on behalf of our members. National Garden Bureau will also organize a trip for influential garden bloggers (aka #NGBplantnerds) to educate and connect those communicators with vegetable breeding companies and their new varieties. 

Individual companies hosting a Field Day or Open House during August are:

1. PanAmerican Seed - Woodland, Ca. (New location - contact for address)
Crops featured: Vegetables 
www.panamseed.com
Phone: 541-914-5548
Dates: Aug. 14 – 18, 2017
Appointments are mandatory, no drop-ins.
Contact: Josh Kirschenbaum 

2. Sakata Seed America - 105 Boronda Road, Salinas, Ca.
Crops featured: Cool crops. 2017 AAS Edible/Vegetable and Ornamental trials.
www.sakatavegetables.com
Phone: 408-782-5379
Dates: Aug. 14-16, 2017
Appointments are mandatory, no drop-ins.
Contact: Jiana Escobar 

3. Sakata Seed America - 13459 Country Road 100, Woodland, Ca., 95776
Crops featured: Warm crops
www.sakatavegetables.com
Phone: 408-782-5379

Dates: Aug. 16-19, 2017
Appointments are mandatory, no drop-ins.
Contact: Jiana Escobar

4. Seeds By Design/Terra Organics - 3856 Cosby Ave, Chico, Ca.
Crops featured: Cucumber, Herbs, Squash, Pumpkin, Gourd, Pepper, Tomato, Melon and Watermelon. 2017 AAS Edible/Vegetable trial and AAS Ornamental trial. 
Summer Garden Trials Luncheon on Aug. 18, 2017.
www.seedsbydesign.com & www.terraorganics.com
Phone: 530-438-2126 for appointments on other dates
Contact: Miles Rogers or Susan Birdseye

5. Seeds By Design/Terra Organics - 1024 Washington Street Willows, Ca.
Crops featured: Vine crops and 2017 AAS Ornamental trial. 
Summer Garden Trials Luncheon on Aug. 18, 2017.
www.seedsbydesign.com & www.terraorganics.com
Phone: 530-438-2126 for appointments on other dates
Contact: Miles Rogers or Susan Birdseye

6. Seminis/Monsanto Home Garden
Crops featured: 2017 AAS Edible trial and Commercial vegetable trials
37437 State Highway 16 Woodland, Ca., 95695
www.seminis-us.com/home-garden  
Contact: Nick Pucci
Phone: 314-694-8052
Tours Thursday and Friday mornings. RSVP to schedule a time.

7. Syngenta - Syngenta Flowers, 2280 Hecker Pass Hwy, Gilroy, Ca.
Crops featured: In-ground and patio trials featuring tomato, pepper, squash, beans, cantaloupe and watermelon. 2017 AAS Ornamental trial.
www.syngentafhg.com
Phone: 408-847-7333
Dates: Aug. 14-18, 2017
Contact: Jeannine Bogard or syngenta.flowers-1@syngenta.com

For more information about this program and/or membership in National Garden Bureau, please contact Diane Blazek.