Sakata Picks Up Danziger Bell Pepper Line
July 1, 2020 
Sakata will add Danziger bell peppers to its existing line. Shown: ‘Samurai’ from Sakata Seed America.
Multinational vegetable seed breeder Sakata announced it is acquiring Danziger’s blocky bell pepper breeding program.
The acquisition covers several existing commercial varieties on the market today. Sakata says it plans to combine the newly acquired genetic material with its own block bell pepper advancements. Additionally, all existing Danziger commercial blocky bell pepper varieties will be made available to the industry via Sakata Seed America, effective immediately.
Sakata shared in a recent press release that its senior director of R&D, Jeff Zischke, played a key role in pursuing the deal.
“Sakata has a global network that can expand and amplify this blocky bell pepper program worldwide,” Zischke explained. “We look forward to advancing these exceptional genetics to build a more comprehensive pepper program for the global market.”
Danziger CEO Micha Danziger agreed that Sakata will be able to take the breeding program even further beyond its standing in his companies’ genetics portfolio.
“We are very happy that our pepper varieties are now in the hands of Sakata, as we are convinced that Sakata will do a great job in maximizing the potential of our breeding program and varieties to create value for Sakata, the pepper growers and consumers around the world,” Danziger said.
Bryan Zingel, senior sweet pepper product manager at Sakata, will help steward the new line to Sakata’s commercial partners around the globe.
“We’re very excited to tap into this resource to better serve the blocky bell pepper market, not only in USMCA, but globally, as well,” he explained. “Danziger has an exceptional breeding program and commercial variety portfolio focused on the Mexico mid-tech market, as well as US growers utilizing high tunnel and shade cover growing practices.”
Danziger reportedly developed its blocky bell pepper varieties using fast-track computational breeding technology from seed breeding specialist, Equinom Ltd., an ag-tech seed innovator that integrates cutting-edge technology with data-driven breeding methodology. The technology enables the company to breed non-GMO varieties with high levels of accuracy and efficiency.
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