Brotherton Seed operates a production plant in central Washington shipping nearly 40 percent of our annual sales to export markets. Parent lines, foundation, and elite seed are grown every year on more than 150 acres in addition to thousands of acres contracted with qualified seed growers. The Columbia Basin is an arid area with the most modern irrigation equipment. Its climatic and phytosanitary conditions offer the best environment for the development of new pea and bean varieties and the production of high quality seed. Our varieties are evaluated in trials throughout the world for performance, quality, and adaptation.
Recognized for outstanding scientific accomplishments for pea improvement, especially for pioneering work in developing multi-podded varieties suitable for commercial use, Brotherton Seed is fully committed to an innovative research program. Our primary research objective is to anticipate the needs of processors with varieties to fit changing quality requirements.
In May 1992, Brotherton Seed acquired the total research germplasm and gene pool of pea and bean varieties from van Waveren, our German trading partner of over 40 years. This gene material – collected during the past 100 years – is proving to be an indispensable addition to our already substantial gene pool. Ms. Irina Weil of van Waveren heads our research and breeding program in Europe. Dr. Gopesh Saha, Director of Research at Brotherton Seed’s corporate headquarters in Warden, heads our research and breeding program in the United States.
On July 14, 2016, Brotherton Seed was acquired by Suba Seeds USA, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Suba Seeds Group B.V. and Paine Partners, LLC, a leading specialty vegetable and legume seed producer.
Suba Seeds is a leading producer, packer and distributor of specialty vegetable seeds for the professional, semi-professional, and hobby garden markets around the world, and a contract supplier to a diverse set of global seed companies. The company is the leading producer of coriander with a strong portfolio of core crops including varieties of beans, peas, radish, cabbage, alfalfa, carrots, chicory, and onion. Founded in 1974 in Italy, Suba today has operations in Italy, France and the United States.
Brotherton Seed will continue to be a leading independent breeder and producer of high quality pea and bean seeds for the processing market. This collaboration allows Brotherton Seed expansion to Suba’s international customer base in addition to expansion of Suba’s presence in the U.S. market.
Visitors are cordially invited to visit our trial grounds in late June for peas and early August for beans each year. Please contact us for an appointment.