Harris Moran Seed Company is pleased to announce the addition of Dan Stephens as Communications Manager.

Stephens brings 10 years of award-winning agricultural journalism, public relations, and advertising experience to the Modesto, CA-based vegetable seed company. As Communications Manager, Stephens will be responsible for internal, external, and corporate communications for Harris Moran.

Specifically, Stephens' duties will include everything from creating advertising to writing press releases and feature stories to promote the company's 1200-plus products. He'll also be responsible for managing and updating the company's website on the internet.

Franck Berger, vice president of marketing and international sales of Harris Moran, says Stephens will be key in advancing the company's global communication strategy. "Dan's knowledge of agricultural  particularly vegetable markets  as well as his journalism and advertising background will be pivotal in increasing the exposure of our company and our products to a worldwide audience."

Prior to coming to Harris Moran, Stephens worked for Fruehling Communications, a San Diego-based public relations and advertising agency specializing in agricultural communications. Before that, Stephens worked as Western Editor for Meister Publishing, generating feature stories for magazines like American Vegetable Grower, American Fruit Grower, Farm Chemicals, and Productores de Hortalizas.

He lives in Modesto with his wife, Karen, and three children. Harris Moran Seed Company is a part of Vilmorin Clause & Cie, the vegetable division of Groupe Limagrain, a French company specializing in agriculture.

HMSC completes 1999 showcase/training at SW Michigan Research and Extension Center, Benton Harbor
(29 September 1999)

Approximately 70 HMSC employees and dealres participated in the 1999 HMSC variety showcase trials at the SWMREC at Benton Harbor the week of August 2nd, 1999. HMSC has developed a trialing program in conjunction with the Research Center to evaluate new and existing varieties for all major species distributed by Harris Moran; including corn, squash, cucumber, pepper, carrot, tomato, pumpkin, cabbage, melon, and watermelon. Over 500 varieties were trialed in 1999 at the Research Center for HMSC's elite Product Managers and Reserachers to evaluate their performance in the Great Lakes market area. HMSC also invited over 30 of its dealer representatives from the Eastern US and Canada to review the trials and receive training on the new varieties.

The trials are coordinated by HMSC Account Manager Bob Hamilton with Dr. Ron Gouldy, Manager of the Research Center. This joint effort between HMSC and SWMREC provides an opportunity to select vegetable varieties that are well adapted to the growing conditions in the Eastern US and Canada.

Dr. Jeff McElroy joins Harris Moran Seed Company as Vice President of Research
(23 June 1999)

Harris Moran Seed Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jeff McElroy as the Vice President of Research. Dr McElroy joins the company at the main office in Modesto, California.

Prior to Harris Moran, Dr. McElroy managed the vegetable seed unit of Daehnfeldt and has a full career of experience in the seed business. After earning a doctorate at Cornell, he joined the seed industry as a plant breeder focusing on development of value-added commercial varieties of Brassica and Solanaceous crops. In recent years, his efforts have turned to the broader areas of seed business and management.

Dr. McElroy brings a solid background in the worldwide seed business to Harris Moran having held positions with seed breeders/producers in the U.S., Italy and Denmark. He brings the practical strength of strong language skills coupled with hands-on and strategic seed business experience.

The addition of Dr. McElroy allows Dr. Paul Zankowski to focus his efforts with Harris Moran in the area of biotechnology. Dr. Zankowski will lead the research effort as Director of Biotechnology and will maintain his office at the Harris Moran San Juan Bautista research station.

The efforts of Drs. McElroy and Zankowski provide increased research assets and enhance Harris Moransí ability to bring customers improved value-added products. With these new appointments, Harris Moran will be better positioned to capture the expanded opportunities available when biotechnology is coupled with strong traditional breeding programs.

New Distribution of Higher Technology Taps New Markets in South Africa
(20 May 1999)

Harris Moran Seed Company and European sister companies Clause and Tézier have joined together in establishing C.HM.T Seeds (Pty) Ltd., an exclusive distributor in South Africa based in Cape Town. The three parents will channel their vegetable seed products through C.HM.T.Seeds (Pty) Ltd. to be distributed to the whole of South Africa and to certain Southern African Countries. Winning products, available starting mid 1999, that deliver higher yielding ability and outstanding characteristics.

André Esterhuyse, the company's managing director, says C.HM.T. Seeds (Pty) Ltd. will change the way of variety selection in the future from what is available to which specialized products are needed. The focus is shifted to market related products which will earn higher revenue on the fresh produce and processing markets.î Breeding programs have already been initiated to address the requirements of processors, fresh market outlets, growers and other role players in the South African industry. André Esterhuyse is a well-known figure in the vegetable and processing industry for the past 25 years.

Belonging to the largest flower and vegetable seed organization in the world, Harris Moran, Clause and Tézier offer technical expertise, advanced products and superior research and development facilities, which will enable C.HM.T. Seeds (Pty) Ltd. to rapidly grow to prominence in this expanding market.

Harris Moran Expands Opportunity in Argentina with Participation in Lagra SA
(20 May 1999)

Harris Moran Seed Company announces the purchase of 50% shares of Lagra SA, a nationwide vegetable seed distributor in Argentina. This new partnership paves the way to increased distribution into this rapidly growing market. European sister companies Clause and Tézier joined the venture and already transferred their distribution to Lagra SA. The company will continue to distribute exclusive Ferry-Morse branded products, under the management of Gabriel Raffo, from the family owning the other 50%.

The combination of outstanding products of U.S. and European origin will enable Lagra SA to tackle both the open field and sheltered crop systems in the country. Over 100 regional dealers and prominent growers from all parts of Argentina attended a launching in Buenos Aires on March 16. Says Gabriel Raffo, general manager of Lagra SA, ìWe are excited about this partnership that will increase the focus of Harris Moran on the ever growing needs of the Argentinean trade.î

Popular HM brand varieties are also available in Argentina through Garde, Giusti and Chuchuy.

With Merger Completed, Harris Moran Focuses on Future
by Lynn Grooms
Seed and Crops Digest, January 1999

"The merger has gone very well in a relatively short period of time," says Jean-Charles Ganas, COO of Harris Moran Seed Company, Modesto, CA. As an example, he points to the recent annual report of Vilmoran Clause & Cie (Harris Moranís French parent and horticultural seed unit of Group Limagrain). The report showed that 1998 sales for Harris Moran (which consolidated the Harris Moran and Ferry-Morse seed brands in North America last year) were up. They were up 5.3 percent over the nine comparable months of 1997. Net profits over twelve months also about doubled to 10.3 million French francs (FF).

As Ganas indicates, Harris Moran has indeed undergone change quickly since the Harris Moran and Ferry-Morse companies were merged in July, 1997. Administration, research, production and logistics were re-organized by the end of that year. The sales teams were merged also.

Administrative offices were moved to the Ferry Morse facility in Modesto, Calif. The newly merged company also utilizes a Ferry-Morse research station in Wisconsin, a Harris Moran station in Idaho and two Harris Moran research facilities in California. The combined resources of the new company enabled the research teams of the merged companies to remain intact, says Ganas.

The Harris Moran executive points out that the two research programs were complementary. Ferry-Morse has focused on yield, color, shape and other marketable traits, while Harris Moran had focused on disease resistance, especially in squash, sweet corn and beans.

With the merger, Harris Moran has been able to quickly beef up its research program and capitalize on the best of both programs. It has several products in the pipeline, and Ganas is optimistic about the companyís future for several reasons.

Virus Resistance

First, the company will be conducting medium- to large-scale trials on virus-resistant melon and Bt sweet corn this year.

Second, Harris Moran is working with the Portland, Oregon-based biotech company Agritope on extending the post-harvest shelf life and quality of melons. Harris Moran began field testing melons with Agritopeís proprietary SAMase ethylene control gene in 1997. It tested the gene in a broader range of material in 1998.

Test results and variety performance will be used to select hybrids for commercial scale trials in 1999, and Agritope will produce data for submission to the USDA and FDA. Melons with longer shelf life are expected to be between one and three years away from commercialization, says Ganas.

Harris Moran scientists also are using technology from Groupe Limagrain to do nematode resistance research. Products incorporating this technology are probably five to seven years from commercialization. Ganas notes that Limagrain also is working on nutrient content enhancement on its own, as well as in conjunction with some European research institutes.

For 1999, Harris Moran is introducing some products developed through its classical breeding program. Among these are a new dark green bean variety that was well accepted by growers in test trials last year, and a new elongated pepper specifically developed for production in Mexico. Harris Moran also is expanding the production range for its Western type melon, Zodiac.

Ganas looks forward to another good year for the firm ís Morning Star sweet corn, which was introduced last year. This variety was developed for production in Florida, and was accepted by growers very well last year, says Ganas.

International Markets

Asked if his company is expanding into new markets around the world, Ganas says Harris Moran is coordinating efforts with its European vegetable seed partners ((Vilmorin, Nickerson Zwaan, Clause and Tézier). For example, Harris Moran is the only one of the Vilmorin Clause & Cie companies to develop sweet corn for the European market. It also is developing certain varieties of squash and beans for its European sister companies.

Vilmoran Clause & Cie has strengthened its entire research program by acquiring an 11.5 percent ownership in Israelís Hazera Quality Seed. Hazera, in turn, has acquired a 12.5 percent share in Vilmorin, SA (France) and Harris Moran. The partnership, announced last July, provides for the exchange of biological technologies in vegetable seed research and development. Hazera is a leader in the fresh market tomato seed business. It also develops and produces pepper, melon, cucumber and onion seed. It has a proprietary technology to enhance tomato shelf life.

ìWe also have a strong position in Japan and the Pacific Rim with sweet corn and beans," says Ganas. He adds that hybrid tomato and watermelon seed demand is increasing in these two markets.

Developing Markets in China, India

Vilmorin Clause & Cie is trying to develop markets in China and India. Ganas points out, however, that hybrids are not being used extensively in these areas yet. Even so, with Asia having two-thirds of the worldís population, Vilmorin Clause & Cie sees great market opportunities ahead. Moreover, the company already has a presence in Japan, with its 25 percent ownership in Mikado, the Japanese seed and agricultural distribution company.

Ganas sees South America as another growth market. He adds that Vilmorin Clause & Cieís European vegetable seed companies have adaptable varieties for markets such as Brazil, Argentina and Chile. These markets have climates similar to the Mediterranean. The company is looking to increase sales representation there. Usage of hybrids also is increasing rapidly in this region, says Ganas.

To meet the growing needs of international and domestic markets and to remain competitive, seed companies must invest in both conventional and biotech research, says Ganas. Before biotech, it was possible to be successful with certain seed crops. Now, companies must spread high biotech costs over more crops and more acres to recoup research investments. This is one of the main reasons why seed companies have merged or have formed alliances with other companies of public research institutions, he says.

Major Consolidations

Consolidation has been more pronounced in the vegetable and flower seed segment of the business. Vilmorin Clause & Cieís annual report points out that the top five operators, for example, represent almost three-quarters of the world market for vegetable and flower seed sales. According to the report, the top five companies, in terms of sales in the commercial (not home garden) vegetable and flower seed market, are Seminis, Novartis, Vilmorin Clause & Cie, Sakata and Takii.

Ganas points out that everyone has been consolidating, from fresh market companies to processors to growers.

"Ten years ago, there wasnít a large difference between large home garden consumers and small commercial growers. Today, growers are totally different, and new advances, like precision farming, are making it more difficult to plan five years out," says Ganas.

He adds that the new demands that customers put on companies, such as Harris Moran, will also make things ìmore interesting" in the future. With a newly combined research group, strategic collaborations and plans for expansion into world markets, Ganas would agree that Harris Moran is ready to work in the interesting times ahead.

Corporate Profile
Vilmorin Clause & Cie
Head Office: 4 quai de la Mégisserie75 001 ParisFRANCE
Phone: 33 0 4 73 63 41 95
Fax: 33 0 4 73 41 80
Website: http://www.vilmorinclause.com

Subsidiaries: Home Garden Sector: Oxadis, Flora-Frey, Suttons, Ferry-Morse
Subsidiaries: Professional Sector: Vilmorin, Nickerosn Zwaan, Clause, Tézier, Elidia (flower seed), Harris Moran
Strategic Alliances: Hazera Quality Seed (technology collaboration); Agritope (US biotech company with ethylene control gene technology)
Annual Sales (commercial vegetable & flower seed only): $209 million (1997/98)
Publicly HeldFiscal Year: July 1-June 30
No. of Employees (total company): 2,242

Harris Moran Executive Profile
Jean-Charles Ganas, COO
Harris Moran Seed Company
PO Box 4938
Modesto, CA 95352-4938
Phone: 209-579-7333
Fax: 209-527-5312
Website: http://www.harrismoran.com 

Jean-Charles Ganas
Age: 47
Education: Agronomy/Business, Institut National Agronomique, Paris, France
Career Path: 11 years in marketing and sales, agricultural chemical business, Chevron Chemical Europe; 12 years in seed development, marketing and sales, six of those years in Italy; CEO, Clause Italy; 3 years Groupe Clause
Languages: English, French, Italian
Farm Background: No
Reason for Choosing Seed Industry Career: Believed genetics would be more interesting than chemicals as many new developments would happen in the genetics field.
Greatest Challenge as a Seed Company Executive: To make the company profitable and to prepare the company for future technologies and changes.
Greatest Disappointment as a Seed Company Executive: The seed industry was not as structured as I expected when I entered the seed business. It was not as structured as the ag chem business. But, the seed industry has become better structured with consolidation.
Greatest Accomplishment(s): To be part of the renewal of Clause in Europe. It was a very old company that was having difficulties five to ten years ago. Now, it is efficient and profitable. At Harris Moran, our management team has done a very good job of efficiently merging two operations. We've been told this by our dealers.

Seed & Crops Digest, January 1999
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