Modesto, California, USA
October 17, 2011

Do you remember your first trip to the farm? To a pumpkin patch? That is exactly what Harris Moran Seed Company offers for local area K-1, and Special Ed students during the month of October.

Educational field trips are a way to appreciate nature’s bounty and to provide a fun and memorable experience. “It’s our way of providing AG literacy to our area kids,” says Dennis Choate, Vice President of Production & Operations for Harris Moran, located off Yosemite Avenue in Modesto. “Plus the children walk away with a Halloween pumpkin of their choice – picked right off the vine – not off a supermarket shelf.”

Choate, began the pumpkin patch program shortly upon arriving at Harris Moran Seed Company, ten years ago. His inspiration for the program came from his wife, Shawn, also an elementary school teacher. Harris Moran kicks off these hands-on agricultural sessions with a discussion of "The Life Cycle of a Pumpkin Seed”. Here the children are shown the various stages of pumpkins growth & development; from seed to final product. Next is the part they have all been waiting for. They are allowed into the pumpkin patch where they can roam and find the perfect pumpkin to take home to their families.

Due to the popularity of the program, local area teachers sign up as far in advance as April 1st each year to ensure they will have the opportunity to return the following year with a new set of students. This year will see more than 1,500 students from surrounding cities and towns visit the Pumpkin Patch. The program will run a total of three weeks and will conclude on October 21st.

To make reservations for your K-1 class for 2012, please contact Barbara Earnest at 209.549.5249.

At Harris Moran Seed Company, we are dedicated to meeting local needs through global diversity and committed to innovation inspired by worldwide partnerships in the scientific, industrial, and commercial fields. In 2008 Harris Moran Seed Company, formed a business unit, HM.CLAUSE, with Clause Vegetable Seeds. HM.Clause, is 100% is dedicated to vegetable seeds, has varieties in more than 100 countries, and operates on all continents. We are among the top four vegetable seed entities in the world, with more than $ 300 Million in turnover and 1,300+ employees. We are also members of the farmer-based, international agricultural co-operative, Group Limagrain. To learn more about our business unit and our specific brands, please visit: www.hmclause.com or www.harrismoran.com.

Website: http://hmclause.com

Published: October 17, 2011