Sakata Announces Infrastructure Expansion and Relocation Plans

Jennifer Zurko

Since 1988, Sakata Seed America has operated its North American headquarters in Morgan Hill, California. The company recently initiated plans to relocate its headquarters, including all operations and personnel functions, to its 219-acre site in Woodland, California by late 2024.

The planned relocation to the Woodland Innovation Center (WIC) will follow the second phase of an infrastructure expansion project that began in 2016. WIC celebrated its official opening in 2018, when phase one of the building project was completed, which includes 16 acres of operational facilities, including greenhouses, an LEED-certified office, headhouse, washery, a 25,000 sq.-ft. warehouse featuring the latest technology in seed processing equipment, and farm shop. In addition, there’s ample farmland to host Sakata’s annual California Field Days event and serve as a permanent trialing location for the company’s expanding breeding programs, and research & development department.

In May of this year, Sakata also opened a new facility in Marina, California, near Salinas. The Sakata Marina Distribution Center is a 20,000 sq.-ft., temperature-controlled warehouse and office building. The Marina Distribution Center is now home to the company’s lettuce seed program and in the future will store and deliver multiple species, including Sakata’s brassica program, for the Coastal California region in 2024.  

Sakata Seed America has long been known for its brand presence and market share in broccoli, and has made significant investments in recent years in infrastructure and personnel to expand its market share in multiple other crops. Sakata’s efforts are focused on integrating a network of research stations throughout North America, including its recently opened Culiacán Innovation Center in Mexico, to foster collaboration for Sakata’s global breeding team on tomatoes, peppers, watermelon and melon, among others. GT