Product Development is an important service provided by Snow Seed Company. It allows us to stay at the forefront of new variety introductions by targeting each new variety to specific seasons, climate, and growers. Through efforts with growers and shippers, we are able to identify vegetable varieties that are better than those used commercially, along with other varieties that may be used for niche markets.

Once we receive new varieties from our suppliers, we begin to plant them with growers in their commercial fields. This allows us the opportunity to compare new varieties against those already commercially used. We do this by trialing each variety throughout the season in several different locations for comparison. This is done to find the advantages and disadvantages of each new variety. By documenting the different characteristics specific to each species, including general comments on vigor, size, weight, color and disease resistance, we are able to judge each variety accurately and independently.

At the end of the season, the data on each variety will be evaluated in an effort to find a specific time slot that would achieve better harvest production in comparison to those already commercially used. In the following year, it will be looked at again in larger acreage trials. If the new variety is not found to have advantages over commercial varieties, the new variety will be dropped from our trialing list.