Casselton, North Dakota, USA
January 6, 2015
Andy Draeger, General Manager of North Dakota-based seed company Meridian Seeds, today announced that they have obtained US distribution access for dry pea pedigreed seed varieties developed by the University of Saskatchewan's Crop Development Centre (CDC) in Saskatoon.
The dry pea varieties will be sold through Meridian Seeds' seed-grower shareholders and licensees, a network that has doubled in size over the past two years and is represented in over 12 states.
"We are very excited to strengthen our partnership with the CDC, and to begin distributing their dry pea varieties to US farmers," said Draeger. "Meridian Seeds is proud to continue the tradition of delivering the best varieties, from around the world, to our customers." The right to distribute CDC pea varieties takes effect on September 1, 2015 and will allow Meridian Seeds to have adequate pedigreed seed available to US farmers for the 2016 crop year.
The CDC is a world-renowned field crop research organization that operates through the Department of Plant Sciences, in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources at the University of Saskatchewan. Many of Canada's dominant pulse, cereal and flax varieties have been developed at the CDC. With its mandate to improve economic returns to farmers and the agriculture industry, the CDC has produced over 400 new crop varieties since its inception in 1971.
"For over a generation, farmers have valued the CDC's dedication to premium crop variety development. We are proud to continue the tradition of collaboration with private sector entities, enabling us to reinvest in our research programs," said Dr. Kofi Agblor, Managing Director of the CDC.
Access to the varieties was obtained through Meridian Seeds' Canadian affiliate, CANTERRA SEEDS, which competed successfully in an open bid process for exclusive US distribution rights to the CDC's dry pea varieties starting on September 1, 2015.
"This arrangement was built on our strong track record, both with the CDC and with US farmers. We've established a robust distribution network in the US that has served us well in marketing a wide range of crops, and have previously proven our expertise to the CDC by successfully marketing its chickpea varieties in the US, in addition to distributing many of its other crop varieties in Canada," said David Hansen, President and CEO of CANTERRA SEEDS.
Formed in 2002 to meet the growing needs of the seed product marketplace in the upper mid-west region of the U.S., Meridian Seeds produces, markets and sells a portfolio of high quality seed. Meridian Seeds is building a strong organization by bringing together seed growers and retailers with the high quality seed the market demands.
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