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Contacts:
Julie Versman, Director of Marketing, 530-750-0150, ext. 116
Chris Coombs, US Business Vice President, 530-750-0150, ext. 180
AgraQuest Introduces Serenade® MAX
Concentrated Formula and Expanded Crop Label Broaden Benefits Throughout Channel
DAVIS, Calif. (January 11, 2005) – AgraQuest, Inc. announces EPA approval and introduction of Serenade® MAX, an improved, wettable powder formulation of its award–winning biofungicide, Serenade. The new MAX product incorporates improvements and expanded opportunities to both growers and distributors, while providing equally effective, broad-spectrum control of important fungal and bacterial diseases of fruit, vegetable, vine and nut crops.
“Our formulation chemists have significantly reduced the amount of inert material in the formula, resulting in a higher biomass and more antifungal compounds in Serenade MAX. Now growers can get all the activity of the old formulation while using only half its application rate,” explains Denise Manker, Vice President of Research and Development at AgraQuest.
“Its concentrated, wettable-powder formula makes MAX easier to handle throughout the distribution channel,” states Chris Coombs, Vice President of U.S Sales at AgraQuest. “Serenade MAX is easier to mix and store, and leaves fewer deposits on fruit and foliage. Plus the new label includes approval on many additional crops, and offers the advantages of chemigation and aerial application methods.”
Serenade MAX, approved by the EPA in September of 2004, includes several important crop groups not seen on the previous label, such as Stone Fruit, Citrus, Tropical Fruits, Berries and Strawberries. The MAX label also includes recommendations for post harvest disease protection from Silver Scurf in Potatoes. Serenade MAX is approved for use in organic production by the National Organic Program (NOP) and listed by OMRI.
Serenade MAX is derived from AgraQuest’s patented strain of Bacillus subtilis, a naturally occurring microbe with disease-fighting biochemistry. The product is also sold in a liquid formulation under the name Serenade ASO (Aqueous Suspension – Organic).
About AgraQuest
AgraQuest is a biotechnology company that focuses on discovering, developing, manufacturing and marketing effective, safe and environmentally friendly natural pest management products for agricultural, institutional and home markets. In 2003, AgraQuest won the prestigious Presidential Green Chemistry Award from the EPA, for the discovery and commercialization of Serenade biofungicide. The company recently announced registration of Sonata® biofungicide for control of powdery mildew, downy mildew and rust. Pending at the EPA are Arabesque™ biofumigant and Virtuoso™ bioinsecticide. In 2004, AgraQuest received a Red Herring Top 100 Private Company Award, and a World Technology Award.