MORGAN HILL, CA - Sakata Seed America has officially received its Good Seed and Plant Practices (GSPP) accreditation, offering a number of GSPP certified tomato varieties.

“Sakata is committed to providing the market with the quality products they need to be successful,” Rhonda Jones, Sakata’s Logistics and Operations Manager, said in a press release. “Offering GSPP certified seed is an extension of that commitment. Now growers that really need GSPP product can get the quality Sakata varieties they want with this added value.”

This accreditation means that the company is now authorized to store, treat, process, package and distribute GSPP certified tomato seed for the NAFTA market.

The GSPP accreditation process is a lengthy process dedicated to ensuring the purchased seed is clean and free of pathogens and disease. The process is done through a company-audit that examines quality management, protocol procedures and work methods.

According to Sakata, this provides an added benefit to the grower by ensuring the cleanliness and safety of the seed, as well as bringing added value to its distributor network and its customers.

Sakata’s France-based sister company, SVE, has been GSPP accredited since July 29, 2010. Companies with this accreditation, Sakata said, must have a quality management system, work methods and information supply in order to comply. Now that it has achieved this, the company plans to offer its customers the following GSPP certified seed varieties:

• Bellastar Indeterminate Grape
• Oribustar Indeterminate Grape
• Oranjestar Indeterminate Cherry
• Ministar Indeterminate Grape
• Rhianna Indeterminate Cocktail
• Moni Indeterminate Saladette
• Rozestar Indeterminate Grape

The Amai grape tomato variety will be offered both as GSPP and non-GSPP, depending on customer preference.

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Sakata Seed America