Despite having the world as their laboratory, our breeders take particular interest in the highly specialized California market. 

To answer the challenge of uniformity and yield, they developed Apex, an outstanding yielder, and Artica, the first HM cauliflower outfitted with Cytoplasmic male sterility, which eliminates self-pollination.

And to carve out new markets, we introduced Verdi, the industry's first green hybrid cauliflower.

Apex, a high quality domed cauliflower, emerged first and quickly became one of the leading varieties. Twelve years in the making - about normal for a cauliflower variety -- Apex blends that combination of uniformity, quality, and high yield.

Stan Forrest, product manager for Harris Moran, said Apex is a good fit for the unique California market. That's because as production costs continue to rise, he explained, growers want in and out of the land very fast.

"Yield and seed quality is important, growers need to maximize boxes per acre. And is important because they want to minimize the number of passes at harvest. Get in. Get out. That's the name of the game when growing costs continue to increase. Apex uniquely fits that bill."

To tailor Apex to California, extensive Harris Moran trials were planted up and down the Salinas Valley. It was soon discovered Apex produced a heavy and dense cauliflower, one that maximizes a grower's carton weight. 

Not only that, the trials revealed the jacket and internal wrap provided excellent protection for its clean and white curd.