PanAmerican Seed turns 75 this year

WEST CHICAGO, USA This year, PanAmerican Seed® reaches its diamond anniversary in the horticulture industry. The company celebrates 75 years spanning decades of innovations and firsts in the world of seed through dedication and long-term, solutions-driven teamwork. Throughout 2022, to mark such a momentous occasion, PanAmerican Seed will share a historical look back through a video timeline, as well as share memories through blogs and social media posts of several groundbreaking product introductions and other milestones developed by the company and its plant breeders over the years.

“Reaching our 75th Anniversary is truly a team effort and one that wouldn’t be possible without our customers and colleagues,” says Anne Leventry, President of PanAmerican Seed. “So often we focus on the future and the next big accomplishment that it feels quite rewarding to take a moment to look back at all that’s come before and the impact it’s had on the industry. We’re thrilled to celebrate our past and take this company into the next age of seed development.”

• PanAmerican Seed Co. began in 1946 in Paonia, Colo., USA, as an idea of industry pioneers Claude Hope, Bob Holley and Charlie Weddle. Double Petunias, Begonias, and Snapdragons starred in the initial assortment; the Costa Rica production facility broke ground in the 1950s.
• The company joins Ball Horticultural Company in 1962; by 1969, the introduction of the Elfin Impatiens forever changes bedding plant sales across the globe. The series is improved in 1980 with Super Elfin® – the best-selling impatiens in their class.
• The PanAmerican Seed Elburn, Ill., USA, facility opened, and development continued through the 1970s and 1980s.
• More revolutionary plants emerged in the 1990s, such as award-winning Wave® Petunias and Dragon Wing® Begonias.
• In the early 2000s, Waller genetics brought Sorbet® Violas and Pacifica Vincas into the assortment; the Kieft Seed™ acquisition in 2009 expanded the perennial category.
• The introduction of the HandPicked Vegetables® Collection in 2015 amplified efforts to sell vegetables and herbs for both home garden and fresh market growers.
• Beacon® Impatiens launched and brought disease resistant I. walleriana back to shade gardens worldwide in 2019.
• In 2021, the Artisan™ Collection of Echinacea becomes the first F1 hybrid seed Echinacea of individual colors, further diversifying PanAmerican Seed’s innovative portfolio in perennials and seed technologies.

Visit www.PanAmSeed.com and watch the video for the full walk down memory lane and to explore the products and milestones that have left their mark along 75 years of innovation. About PanAmerican Seed PanAmerican Seed is an internationally renowned breeder and producer of seed-raised flowers and vegetables based in West Chicago, Illinois, USA, that produces high-quality and best-performing varieties. Research facilities in North and South America, the Pacific Rim and Europe enable us to test and evaluate new varieties under numerous climate conditions. Our state-of-the-art seed distribution center guarantees quick, efficient processing of orders for our worldwide customers. Visit www.panamseed.com for more