Harris Moran launches new packaging.
New look outside. Same quality seed inside.


Inspired by the furrows of where our seed grows, Harris Moran is pleased to unveil new packaging with an attractive, earthier look.

The new design features a cultivated Earth graphic that visually dominates our boxes, bags, buckets, and new foils. The furrowed ground symbolizes our business, our pride, and our product.

The new design retains Harris Moran’s signature yellow color for ease of brand recognition at the dock, on the shelf, and in the barn.

Maurice Smith, president and COO of the Modesto, CA-based company said of the packaging makeover: “The new design blends a bit of the old – the yellow – and a bit of the new – the cultivated Earth. We think it better illustrates the seed inside.”

For the first time, HM will offer seed in Harris Moran foils for NAFTA sales. Look for those July 1.

Offshore, HM’s Niagara and Ferry Morse foils will continue to bring seed to farms worldwide.

Look for the new packaging this summer.

New packaging flyer in PDF format:
www.harrismoran.com/news/newsreleases/pdf/newpackaging.pdf 

Harris Moran Seed Company is part of the largest independently owned seed company in the world. The Modesto, CA-based company is owned by Groupe Limagrain, a French cooperative owned, run, and operated by French farmers.

June 07

Seed veteran joins Harris Moran as Vice President of Sales & Marketing

Harris Moran is pleased to announce the addition of Jack Metzelaar as Vice-President Sales & Marketing.

Metzelaar’s background in the vegetable seed business spans nearly 30 years, during which time he established distribution through distributors or subsidiaries for Groupe Limagrain-owned companies on four different continents.

“Jack has tremendous worldwide experience in our business, including knowledge of our NAFTA markets, together with a full understanding of Groupe Limagrain and our sister companies,” said Maurice Smith, President and COO of Harris Moran, owned by Groupe Limagrain of France.

In the 80s, Metzelaar worked throughout Eastern and Western Europe. He helped establish a subsidiary in Italy (Harris Italia). In the 90s, he joined sister company Clause Semences in France to expand their export business for flower and vegetable seed. While there, he helped set-up a Clause subsidiary in India. Not long after, he set-up subsidiaries in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and South Africa – the latter three in association with Harris Moran.

In 2000, Metzelaar joined another sister company Nickerson-Zwaan in the Netherlands as Sales and Marketing Director. In 2005, he joined Ball Holland, subsidiary of Ball Horticultural Co as subsidiary manager of an ornamental young plant, seed and cuttings production and distribution company with its main activity in Northern Europe.

Metzelaar begins immediately with Harris Moran and will be based at its corporate headquarters in Modesto, California.

Harris Moran Seed Company is part of the largest independently owned seed company in the world. The Modesto, CA-based company is owned by Groupe Limagrain, a French cooperative owned, run, and operated by French farmers.

Harris Moran breeds innovative vegetable varieties designed to boost yield, reduce chemical inputs, and increase freshness, flavor and fruit quality from plow to plate. The company breeds vegetables for markets in more than 65 countries.

Harris Moran debuts OptiCoat pellets in three densities

Harris Moran is pleased to introduce new pelleting technology designed to widen its product line and ensure a timely germination.

“These pellets will split and allow oxygen to enter immediately and initiate the germination process quickly,” said Keith Kubik, HM’s seed physiologist and creator of the new products. “Having the choice of three different pellets gives our customers the opportunity to choose the right product for their seed applications.”

The OptiCoat pellets will be available in three densities, and are used mainly for lettuce, carrots, and onions:

• OptiCoat HD
  A Heavy Density splitting pellet, made primarily for growers in the desert southwest, Canada, and other areas around the world. It’s distinct tan color and density separates it from the other pellets. The pellet will be available in a Maxi size.
• OptiCoat MD
  A Medium Density splitting pellet that will be a new class of pellet to the Harris Moran lineup. This white pellet will be available in three different sizes – Maxi, Ultra and Mini. This pellet will work for numerous species including lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, onions and celery.
• OptiCoat LD
  A Light Density splitting pellet, will be primarily for lettuce growers in California’s Central Coast. This new white pellet, which will be available in a Maxi size, will be released later this fall.

Matthew Terra, HM’s Seed Technology Business Manager, said, “These pellets will complement our product line by having the most up-to-date technology available. Customers will be very satisfied with our new pellets plantability and high quality precision.”

HM will offer these new technology pellets on a custom basis as well. Beginning July 1, 2007, our operations plant in Salinas, California will offer these new pellets and will continue to offer our Filmcoat Plus and FarMore technologies. Competitively priced in the market, Harris Moran’s number one goal is customer satisfaction which includes a quick turnaround time. “Our customers want high quality and a quick turnaround with their products, and that’s what we intend to give them,” said Terra.

Harris Moran Seed Company is part of the largest independently owned seed company in the world. The Modesto, CA-based company is owned by Groupe Limagrain, a French cooperative owned, run, and operated by French farmers.

Harris Moran breeds innovative vegetable varieties designed to boost yield, reduce chemical inputs, and increase freshness, flavor and fruit quality from plow to plate. The company breeds vegetables for markets in more than 65 countries.

February 07

Harris Moran transfers carrot breeding to sister company Vilmorin

Harris Moran is pleased to announce an agreement transferring all Harris Moran (HM) genetic carrot breeding to its sister company, Vilmorin, as future developer of carrots for the global market.

Robert Korstanje, HM’s vice president sales and marketing, said Harris Moran will continue commercial carrot activities and technical support of the current carrot product line as well as promising experimental HMX varieties.

“Sales, technical services, and customer service will continue to serve the current and experimental varieties produced under HM,” said Korstanje.

The decision transferring carrot breeding to Vilmorin is in response to rapid changes in global carrot consumption and marketing, combined with the concentration of the global supply chain of carrots.

Long term, the management of Limagrain, parent company of both seed companies, will benefit from this genetic consolidation while presently preserving the best services to customers, local, regional, and around the world, said Korstanje.

Harris Moran Seed Company is part of the largest independently owned seed company in the world. The Modesto, CA-based company is owned by Groupe Limagrain, a French cooperative owned, run, and operated by French farmers.

Harris Moran breeds innovative vegetable varieties designed to boost yield, reduce chemical inputs, and increase freshness, flavor and fruit quality from plow to plate. The company breeds vegetables for markets in more than 65 countries.

January 2007

New GM at Semillas Harris Moran Mexicana

Harris Moran is pleased to announce the appointment of Bruce Hubert as head of Semillas Harris Moran Mexicana, HM’s subsidiary in Mexicali, Mexico.

Hubert brings 13 years of global seed experience to the general manager position, most recently three years as General Manager of Alliance Semillas Argentina, another HM subsidiary.

Maurice Smith, President and COO of Harris Moran, said “Bruce’s broad understanding of the seed business in Latin America coupled with his analytical and leadership talents make him the perfect candidate to spearhead a new generation of HM sales and service in Mexico.”

Effective immediately, Hubert will be based in Mexicali where he will oversee all aspects of Semillas Harris Moran Mexicana.

Hubert started with Groupe Limagrain – the French cooperative that owns Harris Moran – in 1995 as a business analyst.

A year later, he came to the US and California-based Harris Moran as an internal auditor.

While at Harris Moran, he headed a complex computer refit to link HM seamlessly to its sister companies in Europe.

In April 2004 he was promoted to General Manager of the Argentina subsidiary.

Hubert replaces a retiring Ignacio Reyna who has been with Semillas Harris Moran Mexicana since its inception.

Harris Moran Seed Company is part of the largest independently owned seed company in the world. The Modesto, CA-based company is owned by Groupe Limagrain, a French cooperative owned, run, and operated by French farmers.

Harris Moran breeds innovative vegetable varieties designed to boost yield, reduce chemical inputs, and increase freshness, flavor and fruit quality from plow to plate. The company breeds vegetables for markets in more than 65 countries.