II.3. BRASSICA CROPS (BRASSICA SPP.) – 187
professional recognition of a plant breeder, which is required in both CFIA variety
registration and CSGA seed crop certification.
Brassica vegetable seed-production locations and management
The market for Brassica vegetables has, in recent years, experienced a steady increase
in demand. This expansion has been aided by widespread refrigerated transportation
systems that can provide a year-round supply of such vegetables to most markets.
The Brassica vegetable crop with the greatest demand for seed is cabbage, followed by
the B. rapa Asian vegetables and broccoli. The world requirement for cauliflower seed
is less while the demand for turnip, rutabagas and kohlrabi is relatively small.
Accompanying the increased commercialisation of Brassica vegetable production has
been the need to provide large quantities of seed of high quality and varietal purity.
This requirement has resulted in the majority of the seed being produced in specific
locations where climate and isolation from other Brassica crops are favourable for
consistent high yield and quality. To aid the growing international trade in vegetable seed,
the OECD has established a Scheme for the Certification or Control of Vegetable Seed
which requires field and seed inspection by an accredited authority, within the country of
origin, to ensure the seed meets varietal purity standards, including freedom from cross-
pollinating species. The OECD Vegetable Seed Scheme provides for the production of
“certified seed”, and the designation of “standard seed”, corresponding to two different
control requirements. Other organisations that facilitate the seed trade include the
International Seed Federation (ISF), which has defined trading terms and rules dealing
with sales, can arbitrate settlements and assists with import and export licenses:
ISF regional seed industry organisations, such as the Asia and Pacific Seed Association
(APSA), which seeks to improve vegetable seed production and trade in the region
(George, 2009). Many companies also use a QSM as described above for oilseed seed
production.
Locations of concentrated vegetable seed production
In developing countries, vegetable seed is primarily supplied from farm-saved seed,
and more rarely from the formally organised seed sector. In countries with strong
agricultural and horticultural industries, nearly all the seed is from commercial pedigreed
sources. For large-scale seed production of the biennial Brassica vegetables, seed
companies have concentrated production in areas with relatively mild winters and
moderate summer temperatures. In Europe, such areas are found in Belgium, Brittany
(France), northern Italy and the Netherlands.
In North America, among the Brassica vegetables, broccoli has the greatest seed
demand followed by cabbage and cauliflower. The market for the seeds of collard,
Brussels sprouts and the Asian vegetables is much smaller. Seed production of these
crops is concentrated in valleys of Oregon and Washington states (e.g. Oregon’s
Willamette Valley). Selected areas in California and Arizona are also important producers
of broccoli and cauliflower seed. Essentially all broccoli and cabbage varieties produced
in the United States are F 1 hybrids. In contrast, most cauliflower varieties are highly
inbred and uniform, self-pollinating populations, but in recent years more and more
F 1 hybrids have entered the market (Farnham, 2007). F 1 and inbred varieties of collards,
Brussels sprouts and kale provide seed to the commercial market. In South America,
Chile is a significant supplier of vegetable Brassica seed.
In Australia, seed production of Brassica vegetable crops is centred in Tasmania in
the regions of the Coal River Valley, Derwent Valley, central East Coast,