Sakata, a 96-year old breeder of ornamentals, including the SunPatiens series, Majestic Giants pansies, Profusion zinnias and Festival gerberas, is changing its approach to marketing trials. Sakata will not take part in the 2010 California Spring Trials, but will focus on multiple events at venues in North America, the Netherlands and Japan.
Some of the events the company has planned for this year include:
January: Primula trial, Netherlands.
June: Week 24 European Flower Trials, Netherlands.
June: Warm crops focus event, Southeastern U.S.
July: OFA Short Course, Columbus, Ohio; lisianthus trial, Nagano Misato, Japan
August: Warm crops focus events (2) and gerbera focus event, Midwestern U.S.
September: Cool crops (earliness) focus event and gerbera focus events (2), West Coast U.S.
October: Pansy event, Netherlands.
November: Autumn pack trial, Kakegawa, Japan.