Are Vegetable Seed Trials Still Happening?

Many of you attend vegetable seed trials each year. But 2020 isn’t an ordinary year. So we reached out to seed companies to learn how their trials have changed and how you can keep up with the latest breeding trends.

Another resource you will want to keep in mind is VegetableIndustryTrials.com. Seed companies who normally compete with one another came together to create a one-stop-shopping site for brokers and growers wanting to attend their trials. Since each company has created its own response to the pandemic, this site provides updated information for Bejo Seeds, Enza Zaden/Vitalis Organic Seeds, HM.CLAUSE, PanAmerican Seed, Pure Line Seeds, Sakata Seed America, Seminis Vegetable Seeds/Bayer – CropScience, Syngenta Seeds.

Here’s what seed companies are reporting about their trials:

Bejo Seeds

Bejo is still holding its New York trials, but the trials are not open. Its New York Open House will go virtual instead, premiering to the public on September 1 and archived on the Bejo YouTube channel. The company will promote any updates through its social media platforms and its website, BejoSeeds.com.

It has cancelled its California trials, however.

Crops to view: Beet, broccoli, Brussels sprout, cabbage, carrot, gherkin, herbs, kale, leek, onion, pepper, tomato, unique minor crops, zucchini, and a focus on organics

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Enza Zaden/Vitalis Organic Seeds

Enza Zaden is holding trials for just one crop, watermelon. It still plans to hold live trials in 2020 and does not have virtual components.

GILROY, CA
August 19, 2020
Crops to view: Watermelon

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HM CLAUSE

HM.CLAUSE is hosting trials this year, but those trials will primarily be virtual.

“Registration for our event consists of two ticket types, virtual and a limited number of in-person appointments,” says Marc Nerius, Communications Manager, USA, Canada, and Pacific.

Virtual guests receive access to its new online platform for the field day event. This platform consists of a dedicated website that host a wide variety of product videos, images, and information.

“Our new Virtual Field Day Experience will allow customers to learn about exciting product updates and interact with our team like they never have before,” Nerius says. “We’re in the process of recording a significant number of videos ‘live from the field’ and our goal is to make customers feel like they’re right there with us, walking through the fields.”

In-person guests are limited to appointment only and local California customers that are within driving distance to the event. Once on-site, customers will have contactless registration, and small groups will be maintained to ensure social distancing.

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PanAmerican Seed

PanAmerican Seed currently plans to hold its August 2020 trials, however it will also host virtual tours of its sites for those unable to travel. Naturally, COVID-19 developments may impact its plans for live trials.

Those interested in attending any of its trials, reach out to Account Manager Josh Kirschenbaum (you can do so here) to schedule a time to view and discuss what’s growing in its trials.

Locations and dates:

HANCOCK, WI
Monday, August 10-Friday, August 14
Crops to view: Basil, cucumber, eggplant, pepper, pumpkin, squash, tomato (open field and high tunnel)
*By appointment only.

WOODLAND, CA
Monday, August 17-Friday, August 21
“We currently do not plan on having PanAmerican representatives at our Woodland trials but that may change,” Kirschenbaum says. “If you will be in the area and would like to take a self-guided tour, please let me know we can coordinate your visit. We also plan to have video footage of these trials for viewing remotely.”
Crops to view: Eggplant, pepper, tomato

HALL, NY
Tuesday, August 25-Wednesday, August 26
Crops to view: Basil, cucumber, eggplant, pepper, pumpkin, squash, tomato
*By appointment only.

WEST CHICAGO/ELBURN, IL
“If you are in the Chicagoland area this summer and would like to visit our research trials, we would be happy to set up a visit if feasible,” Kirschenbaum  says. You can contact him at [email protected], or 541 914-5548.

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Pure Line Seeds

At this time, Pure Line is still planning two host trials. Most will take place in August, although one Wisconsin trial took place earlier in July and another will take place in October.

WOODLAND, CA
August 17-20
Crops to view: Cucumbers, eggplant, tomato, summer squash, watermelon, melon, peppers

HALL, NY
August 26-28
Crops to view: Beans (green, wax, flat, pole), broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, carrots, cabbage, eggplant, pak choi, tomato, summer squash, peppers

PLAINFIELD, WI
July 7
Crops to view: Peas (shelling, sugar snap, snow)

HANCOCK, WI
August 12-14
Crops to view: Beans (green, wax, flat, pole), broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, carrots, cabbage, eggplant, gourds, pak choi, tomato, summer squash, watermelon, melon, peppers

PLAINFIELD, WI
August 12-14
Crops to view: Beans (green, wax, flat, pole)

HANCOCK, WI
October 8-10
Crops to view: Carrots

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Sakata Seed America

Since Sakata is seriously limiting who can attend its live trials to ensure the health of its customers, it will post a virtual version of the trials in early September. It will send out an eBlast to at that time.

Here are the crops you will be able to view in the videos:

Cool Crops Trialed in Salinas, CA: Broccoli, baby leaf, beet, Swiss chard, spinach

Warm Crops Trialed in Woodland, CA: Melon, onion, pepper, tomato, pumpkin, winter squash, watermelon

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Seeds by Design

Seeds by Design cancelled its summer trials in 2020 due to COVID-19, say owner Patty Buskirk.

“We are planning a seed sample mailing this winter, for all customers. This will include new products and promotional ideas,” she says.

The company is scheduling teleconferences and video calls for its customers, however.

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Seminis Vegetable Seeds

Seminis retooled its 2020 trial plans due to the pandemic. While it trialed crops, the trials were closed to for in-person visits. It will share the results in the early fall. Stay tuned for details.

The seed company’s popular onion iX went virtual earlier this year. You can view what you would have seen and experienced at onion iX had it been live at OnionExperience.com.

It also hosted a webinar moderated by Seminis Short Day Globe Onion Breeder, Franco Asoro. The webinar is available on YouTube.

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Syngenta Vegetable Seed

Syngenta decided to narrow its focus to cucurbits in its Woodland fields and will host virtual trials in September. It’s open to all who want to attend.

Virtual Trials
September 10 for the U.S. market
Crops: Cucurbits — watermelon, melon, squash, zucchini, and cucumbers.

“In Syngenta Vegetable Seeds one of our goals has always been ‘connecting with each other’ and this year, with all the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw an opportunity to do so in a way we have never done before. We decided it was time for the first Live! version of the Americas Tour,” says Ivy Perez, Marketing Communications Lead, Vegetable Seeds.