Mt. Pleasant SC - The Florida Sod Growers Cooperative (FSGC) is releasing a new and improved St. Augustinegrass in Florida through a joint agreement with a private turfgrass development company. The joint release agreement is only the second of its kind for the FSGC.

 

The agreement between the FSGC and Sod Solutions, Inc. is designed to support the FSGC’s organizational goals, and provides for the release of Sapphire™ St. Augustine to licensed sod producers throughout the state. Through the agreement, the FSGC will participate in marketing and program oversight. FSGC members will be afforded exclusive opportunity to produce this improved warm-season grass in Florida.

 

According to Tobey Wagner, President of Sod Solutions, Sapphire was selected for release in Florida because it is well suited to the local climate, and will appeal to homeowners, municipalities, and commercial entities.

 

 

"Sapphire is heat tolerant, and handles drought and other stresses very well," says Wagner. "This turfgrass creates a beautiful deep blue-green, soft textured landscape. We recommend Sapphire for home lawn and commercial applications."

 

Sapphire™ was originally developed by Todd Layt, a well known Australian turfgrass breeder. Sapphire is known as Sapphire Soft Leaf Buffalo in Australia, where it has emerged on the market and is meeting with commercial success as a distinctively improved variety. Sod Solutions, Inc., an international turfgrass development company based in the United States, is the exclusive U.S. patent holder and licensor for Sapphire. Although the grass will be available in other states, only FSGC members will be eligible for licensing in Florida. Licensing will be open through July 31, 2005. Sapphire will be available for purchase as sod or plug trays by early summer.

 

According to Wagner, the release agreement is structured to benefit FSGC constituents and the state’s turfgrass industry. It will provide them with a viable new turfgrass selection, and expand the practicable choices available to anyone who wants a beautifully colored, softer textured turfgrass that handles environmental stresses well.

 

"This is an excellent way to release a new variety of turfgrass in Florida," says Dave Dymond, president of the FSGC. "The first-ever joint release agreement, which we have participated in with Sod Solutions since 2002, worked very well for Celebration^TM Bermudagrass. We saw that this type of arrangement enabled the turfgrass to get to market more quickly." Adds Dymond, "And, there is no better group to produce Sapphire than the producers who are members of the Co-op."

 

Wagner says that the quality control practices followed during US testing and production of Sapphire will ensure a high quality, genetically pure product. Additionally, the turfgrass has been rigorously tested and evaluated by turfgrass researchers and producers across the U.S. Certification through the Southern Seed Association will be required of all producers.

 

The FSGC, formed by turf producers in Florida, promotes the well-being of the state’s sod industry, and is dedicated to the preservation of the natural resources of Florida and the quality of life of its residents. Currently the FSGC has 65 members Sod Solutions, Inc., an international turfgrass development company, was incorporated in the early 1990s. The company’s primary research facility and headquarters is in Mt. Pleasant, SC. Sod Solutions has developed and released Palmetto^® St. Augustine, EMPRESS^® Zoysia, EMPIRE^® Zoysia and Celebration™ Bermudagrass in the United States, and is the U.S. patent holder for each of these grasses. Visit the Sod Solutions, Inc. Web site, www.sodsolutions.com, for more information.