General Info

Cal/West Seeds has a proud heritage as the largest member owned US cooperative devoted exclusively to the seed business. The following chronology provides a timeline of significant events in the development of the organization over the past six decades. There have been many individuals including members, directors and employees who have made a major contribution to the company over the years. The dedication and work of these individuals was and continues to be the spark that moves Cal/West forward. 1939The California Ladino Clover Association was established. The cooperative was formed by 16 Ladino clover seed growers in northern California, hoping to improve their market and put production on a stable economic foundation." Seed was sold under the "Caladino" brand and the name of the organization later became Caladino Farm Seeds to include other seeds that were added to the company's production and marketing program. 1950Calapproved is established by a nucleus of seven growers and sponsorship of the California Farm Bureau Federation. The original headquarters were in the Farm Bureau offices in Berkeley, California. In 1959, land was acquired in Modesto and an office was built and completed in 1960. The company also had a small sales office in Omaha, Nebraska. 1957Caladino claims 85% of the foreign market for Ladino clover seed. As a result of this emphasis, Caladino was selected for the Presidential "E" Award for Export Expansion and the award ceremony was held in Washington D.C. with President Lyndon B. Johnson making the presentation personally to Caladino President Carl Mehring. Caladino played a key role in producing and supplying Ladino clover to aid in re-vegetation of war-torn Europe and surplus production ended up in the hands of the Commodity Credit Corporation. 1959Caladino inaugurates a full research program. The Initial research facilities consisted of a small rented greenhouse and about two acres of adjacent land adjacent land in West Chicago. Later, 20 acres of land were rented near the county fairgrounds in Woodland, California. A company-owned greenhouse was erected, a few items of equipment were purchased and the research office headquarters were moved into the company's main office. 1969Caladino and Calapproved are merged to form Cal/West Seeds Inc The first Board of Directors meeting of the newly formed Cal/West Seeds was held at the El Rancho Hotel in West Sacramento, California on January 17, 1969. 1973Cal/West purchased its present 45-acre research farm in Woodland, California. Sunflowers were added to the research package and marked the beginning of a winter research program in Hawaii. 1975Land is purchased in Wisconsin to establish a Midwest research center to evaluate diseases and provide the necessary research data for major alfalfa seed consuming states in the nation.