A leading international breeder has signed a deal with a Canadian marketing board to develop asparagus varities.

The deal, between UK-based Hargreaves Plants and the Ontario Asparagus Growers Marketing Board, follows several years of trials and commercial collaboration and will see the development of asparagus varieties, from the University of Guelph, over a wide range of countries, including the EU, Peru, China, Thailand and much of Africa.

Paul Taylor, chief executive of Hargreaves Plants, said: “We have been working together for some time on this material.

“It has been not only a pleasant relationship but one now looking likely to bring beneficial and mutual commercial rewards. Early results of Guelph Millennium and Guelph Tiessen show real promise in many areas.”

Hargreaves Plants currently has University of Guelph material on trial in seven countries.

Denton Hoffman, general manager with the Ontario Asparagus Growers Marketing Board, said: “Hargreaves Plants has always been a valued partner in our seed development. We are confident these new varieties will match any asparagus varieties out there, and prove profitable for growers worldwide.”

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