20 - Sunday, July 15, 1990 - North Shore News BUSINESS High tech benefits seed production north shore high tech Michael Becker NORTH VANCOUVER- based Dawson Seed Com- pany Ltd. is reaping the harvest of a recent explo- sion in the number of quali- ty seed varieties being brought to market by way of biotechnology. Said Cheryl Dawson, the com- pany’s turf sales and ad- ministrative manager: ‘‘What’s happened is that in the last 10 years and particularly in the last five years, more .and more varieties are being developed. More dollars are being put into plant research and biotechnology is speeding things along.”’ Biotechnology does away with the need for a plant breeder to grow out a clone of a plant type each year and wait for Mother Nature to take her course while cross breeding plants. Instead, the process is accelerated mechanical- ly. Added Dawson, ‘‘The trend certainly benefits the homeowner and consumer because lawn seed products and wild seed products are better. Better products mean lower needs as far as fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides. Certain- ly, through plant research, that is becoming possible.’’ While Dawson Seed isn’t deep into the lab work, the company has developed a plant world niche by specializing in the turf and forage wholesale seed market. The company also buys, pro- cesses, blends and packages seed grain, wildflower seed and native species for reclamation purposes. The Dawsons have been in the business for four generations, beginning with Cheryl Dawson’s great-grandfather on the prairies, who bought and sold grain. The company has been in North Vancouver for about eight years. The company takes in seed from the U.S., Europe, Australia, New Zealand, northern B.C. and Alberta. The rapid growth in the availability of ‘‘quality’’ seeds has meant that both seed companies and their clients have had to get smarter about seeds. “Because there are more and more varieties available it takes more effort on our behalf to make sure that we get the best ones. In- stead of just going along with the same old brand and putting your money into marketing and letting that carry you for a few years, you have to be continually re- educating your customers to en- sure they are getting the best available to them,’’ Dawson said, adding, ‘It’s a bit harder to dif- ferentiate yourself from the com- petition because there are so many good varieties out there.”* One way to differentiate is to CHERYL DAWSON, EN PAUSE SEE SO ae PS a: re a NEWS ghoto Neit Lucente turf sales and administrative manager for Dawson Seed Company Ltd. sifts through a bag of the local seed com- pany'’s product. The company specializes in turf and forage seed. offer custom-blended products. “It’s surprising to outsiders how complicated the mixtures are. They usually have between six or 10 ingredients of different varieties of seed like alfalfa along with different clovers and other grasses for a forage crop,”” Dawson said. ‘‘The varieties are chosen for when they (clients) want them to mature, what they want to use them for. They may need a certain kind of protein yield. See Seeds Page 21 % GOVERNMENT BONDS EQUIVALENT PRE-TAX YIELD* GOVERNMENT /13.30%! 13.00%112.90% We offer a NO-FEE RRSP T-BILL RATES* 13 Mons: | 6 MONTH | 1 YEAR | OUR BEST 19.19%] 12,0%Ai1200%; GICRATES* | :vearn 1 3vEAR | SYEAR cai DAVID BLAIR .. 682-1751 509 1066 West Hastings Street Vancouver. Bnitsh Columbia VEE IX1 * Ail rates are sudeCt 10 Charge without notce CONGRATULATIONS The Certified General Accountants Association of British Columbia recently awarded 15 scholarships to graduating secondary school students from different parts of the province. One of the recipients is: Ronnie Chai West Vancouver Secondary West Vancouver The scholarships, each equivalent to $500, are awarded to students who are continuing their education in an accounting- related program at a BC. university, community college, B.C.1.T. or through the C.G.A. program. The Certified General Accountants Association of British Columbia 19595 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver, BC. V6] 175 * (604) 732-1211 Opportunities call for CGAs ADS FOR TEENAGERS If you're a student !ook- ing for work, the North Shore News can help you. Just fill in the coupon below and mail or drop it into us and we'll run it in our Classifieds FREE OF CHARGE. FREE UNTIL JULY 31 Employers will form an im- pression of you by the ad you run, so word it carefully. include your name and phone number and any infor- mation about yourself that you think an employer should know. If you know what kind of work you're ooking for, include that too. COUPON Students must be no older than 17. Please print one letter to a box. Leave one space between words. Mail or drop into: 1139 Lonsdale Ave. North Vancouver B.C. V7M 2H4 Phone In ade will not be accepted.