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Contacts:
Julie Versman, Director of Marketing, 530-750-0150, ext. 116
Pamela G. Marrone, Chairman and Founder, 530-750-0150, ext. 115
AgraQuest Introduces Serenade® Garden Concentrate
Safe, Effective, Organic Disease Control for Home Gardeners
Broadest spectrum of garden disease control available;
Safe for children, pets, birds and wildlife
DAVIS, Calif. (January 31, 2005) – After years of offering effective disease control to farmers and flower growers worldwide, AgraQuest announces the addition of Serenade Garden Disease Control Concentrate to its retail product line. An excellent, economical alternative for gardeners who need larger quantities of product, this organic fungicide concentrate will complement the Serenade Garden Ready-to-Use spray bottle that is currently on select garden center and nursery shelves.
Serenade Garden’s organic formula provides effective, broad spectrum disease control against many important garden problems such as mildews, molds, blights, leaf spots, rusts—while protecting roses, vegetables, fruits, flowering plants, trees and shrubs.
Serious home gardeners, or those who treat large gardens or fruit trees, will enjoy the convenience and economy of new Serenade Garden Disease Control Concentrate that mixes easily in a 1 or 2 gallon hand-pump or hose-end sprayer. Serenade Garden’s broad-spectrum prevention and control of most common garden diseases will yield beautiful, disease-free fruits, vegetables and flowers all season long. And all home gardeners will appreciate that the product not only works, it works safely. It is non-toxic to birds, bees and beneficial insects, fish and wildlife.
“Families with kids and pets playing near the garden can confidently use AgraQuest’s garden products”, states Julie Versman, Director of Marketing. “Some fungicides marketed as 'safe' are actually skin and lung irritants. And they can injure delicate plants if applied in full sun or on hot summer days. Serenade Garden is so safe, you can harvest and enjoy your fruits, veggies and flowers the very same day you apply the product. No worries about harmful residues, with the benefit of beautiful, disease-free produce!”
Serenade Garden Disease Control Concentrate is offered in 20 oz and 32 oz bottles with measuring caps, while the Ready-to Use version is packaged in convenient 24 oz and 32 oz spray bottles. Serenade Garden products are distributed nationally to independent garden retailers by National Garden Wholesale, a distributor of specialty gardening supplies. Consumers and retailers can get more information about Serenade Garden online at www.serenadegarden.com, a website featuring a store locator, label information, and tips for product use.
The Science Behind Serenade Garden
AgraQuest’s team of scientists have traveled the world searching for tiny microbes that effectively fight against the important diseases and pests that plague farmers everywhere. These microorganisms are then studied, cultivated and manufactured in AgraQuest’s facilities and sold—in powder or liquid form—to growers around the globe. The microbes’ natural biochemistry attacks diseases and pests, leaving no residue behind. From Napa Valley wineries to banana plantations in Costa Rica, AgraQuest’s products have proven that natural pesticides—or fungicides—offer the same level of protection against mildews, blights, leaf spots and other diseases as synthetic chemicals.
“We developed our new retail line of Serenade Garden products so that home gardeners could benefit from the same safe, effective plant protection we provide to commercial growers around the world,” said Pam Marrone, Chairman and Founder of AgraQuest. “Farmers report better yields and higher quality crops when they use our products, and homeowners can now get the same results in their own backyards, from a safe, organic product.”
Serenade Garden Disease Control products are lised by OMRI, the Organic Materials Review Institute, which lists products that can be used in certified organic farming, gardening and food processing. It is also acceptable for use in organic gardening through the National Organic Program (NOP) of the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
About AgraQuest
AgraQuest focuses on discovering, developing, manufacturing and marketing effective, safe and environmentally friendly natural pest management products for the agricultural and institutional and home markets. Internationally recognized venture capital firms, influential growers and agribusinesses back AgraQuest. Serenade Garden is one of several products in AgraQuest’s extensive pipeline. Serenade® is a broad spectrum fungicide used on fruit, nut and vegetable crops worldwide. Sonata® Biofungicide for mildews and rusts was recently approved by the EPA. Rhapsody® is for commercial growers of ornamental plants and greenhouse vegetables. Biotune® Adjuvant is formulated to enhance the efficiency of biological disease control products. Also pending at the EPA are Arabesque™, Pirouette™ and Glissade™ Biofumigants for post harvest, greenhouse and soil uses, and Virtuoso™ Bioinsecticide. AgraQuest received the 2003 Presidential Green Chemistry Award for the development of Serenade® Biofungicide and the 2004 World Technology Award for the Environment.