PICKSEED WEST Inc., Tangent, Oregon is pleased to announce the immediate appointment of TOM BURNS to the position of Vice President, International Sales and Market Development.

Tom is a fifteen-year veteran of the Oregon seed industry added to a twenty-year career in west coast agriculture.

Prior to this appointment Tom was International Sales Director for AgriBioTech Inc. This followed twelve years of managing and operating the Willamette Seed Company of Albany, Oregon.

Throughout his "seed career" Tom traveled extensively and established far-ranging contacts in Asia, South America and Europe. He is also extremely well versed in the Canadian seed market. His international experience in the seeds industry enables Tom to assume the well-established offshore commerce of PICKSEED WEST. This includes extensive marketing in China, Japan, Australia, Korea and many registered varieties in Western and Central Europe and Scandinavia.

Tom is married to Sandy Burns and they have two grown children. They live in Albany, Oregon, the state where they have resided most of their lives.

PICKSEED WEST operates one of America's most successful turfgrass variety development programs. Recent releases include the new "Transist" Intermediate ryegrass, Fiesta III Turf Perennial ryegrass, Dynasty Turf Tall fescue and Langara Kentucky bluegrass.

PICKSEED WEST Inc. is a member of the PICKSEED Companies Group. The PICKSEED Companies Group includes: PICKSEED WEST in Oregon, Roberts Seed in Tangent, Oregon and PICKSEED Canada Inc., which operates branches in Edmonton, Alberta., Dawson Creek British Columbia, Winnipeg, Manitoba, St. Hyacinthe, Quebec and is headquartered in Lindsay, Ontario. The Group also includes Seeds Ohio in West Jefferson Ohio and Mapleseed, an operating division of PICKSEED.

Tom Burns can be reached at tburns@pickseedwest.com 

Company news release
N2937