WOODLAND, CA - What better way to commemorate your retirement than by being inducted into a Hall of Fame? The 38-year industry veteran Dean Liere has retired from Syngenta Vegetable Seeds as its Watermelon Regional Portfolio Manager for The Americas, and will be inducted into the National Watermelon Hall of Fame at the 2022 National Watermelon Association (NWA) Convention February 23–27.

“I’m most grateful to receive this honor from the NWA, but the accomplishments of the Syngenta watermelon program are the result of a dedicated team of players spanning research, seed production, sales, marketing, and customer service,” Liere said. “The true success lies in the collaboration we’ve developed in partnership with watermelon growers, industry leaders, and university researchers.”

According to a press release, Liere has been in the vegetable seed business since 1984 and with Syngenta for the past 25 years. His career has spanned both marketing and product management for a range of species, although in the past decade he was focused exclusively on Syngenta’s watermelon portfolio, with geographic responsibilities including the United States, Mexico, South and Central America, and Australia.

“Dean’s unlimited passion and expertise for watermelon has been a fantastic source of innovations for the whole industry, from growers to value chain players, across many markets,” said Jerome Verdier, Global Business Unit Head Cucurbits. “His footprint will last for a long time.”

Javier Martinez-Cabrera, Syngenta Americas Head of Vegetables, also commented.

“From disease resistance to quality and consumer appeal, Syngenta has made great strides over the last decade, maximizing both grower profitability and end-user satisfaction,” he noted. “Numerous Syngenta watermelon varieties have come to fruition under Liere’s portfolio leadership, and we look forward to collectively saying ‘thank you’ to him as he closes the last chapter of an illustrious career.”

In October 2021, Erin Doughtie succeeded Liere and worked with him until his retirement in early 2022. Doughtie draws on a dynamic experience in commercial roles and research and development, in addition to time spent gaining agricultural experience on three continents.

“We are fortunate to possess an agile, dedicated team of individuals across all aspects of our watermelon program within Syngenta,” she stated. “I’m both honored and energized to work with such a talented, innovative, and pragmatic team of people and look forward to continue serving the needs of growers and consumers in continuation of Dean’s legacy of excellence.”

An example of these innovations include Syngenta’s latest variety, Valor.

As Syngenta continues to evolve its watermelon seed breeding program, ANUK will keep you in the loop.

Syngenta Vegetable Seeds