We strive to provide the world with better grasses through the innovative research of Pure-Seed Testing genetics and seed technology; we have been doing this with integrity since 1974. With more than 65,000 acres of seed production, we can deliver unrivaled products and customer satisfaction. Pure-Seed Testing is the largest privately held grass seed researcher in the world with:
Pure-Seed Testing
West
Located in the grass seed capital of the world
Canby, Oregon USA
PST - West
Crystal Rose-Fricker, President of PST & Pure Seed, and Austin Fricker, Vice President of PST and the Production Manager at Pure Seed, direct the research at PST West.
PST West focuses on cool-season turfgrass, forage grass, and cover crops with improved resistance to diseases and abiotic stresses, including salt, drought, and herbicides.
-
Largest privately held turf shade trial in the world
-
Specialized focus on seed yield trials
-
Seeded seashore paspalum development
-
TWCA drought trialing location
-
CTBT trialing location
-
Specializing in widely adaptable forage grasses and cover crops
PST - East
Dr. Melodee Fraser, Director of Research, PST East in Rolesville, NC.
PST East focuses on the development of disease-resistant and heat tolerant tall fescues, along with the development of seeded turf-type bermudagrass and zoysiagrass. PST East also specializes in improving summer turf performance in Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue, and creeping bentgrass.
-
Located in the Transition Zone for maximum disease pressure
-
Specialized focus on seeded bermudagrass and zoysiagrass
-
TWCA drought trialing location
-
CTBT trialing location
Pure-Seed Testing
East
Located in grass seed transition zone with high disease pressure
Rolesville, North Carolina USA
Pure Seed Forage and Cover Crop Breeding
Pure Seed's Forage Program
Performance from the Ground Up
At Pure Seed, we believe better forage means better livestock. Through Pure-Seed Testing (PST), our forage breeding program develops grasses that deliver on three promises:
-
Low input efficiency – perform with less water and fertility.
-
Stress resilience – stand up to drought, disease, and variable conditions.
-
Nutritional performance – drive animal health and productivity.
-
Nutritional Quality – High crude protein (CP) and digestibility for better animal intake.
-
RFV / RFQ – Superior Relative Feed Value and Relative Forage Quality metrics that predict how effectively animals will convert forage into production.
-
Yield Content & Persistence – High tonnage that holds up across multiple cuts or grazing seasons.
-
Energy Metrics – Strong NEL 3x (Net Energy for Lactation) and milk per ton values that translate forage into dairy efficiency.
-
Balanced Performance – Combining quality + yield + persistence for consistent, profitable feed supply.
Our forages are bred to work where they’re needed most—on farms. Whether under grazing, cutting, or silage systems, Pure Seed varieties deliver consistent tonnage, improved animal performance, and reduced input costs.
Forage
Pure-Seed Testing’s cover crop breeding program is dedicated to delivering solutions that promote soil health, sustainability, and farm productivity. Our cover crop selections are designed for rapid establishment, effective weed suppression, and improvement of soil structure. With a focus on adaptability, these varieties thrive across a range of environments and management systems.
-
Soil Health Benefits – Enhance organic matter, fix nitrogen, and foster beneficial soil microbes for long-term soil fertility.
-
Erosion Control – Fast-growing, dense canopies protect topsoil from wind and water erosion.
-
Weed Suppression – Outcompete weeds to reduce herbicide reliance and improve crop establishment.
-
Versatile Species Mixes – Blends tailored for specific farm needs, including legume, grass, and brassica components for multi-purpose benefits.
-
Improved Moisture Management – Root systems help retain moisture and increase water infiltration for resilient cropping systems.
Backed by rigorous field evaluation, Pure Seed cover crops support sustainable production by maximizing ecosystem services and delivering practical results for today’s growers.
Cover Crops
Pure Seed's
Cover Crop Program
Performance from the Ground Up
MEET THE TEAM
President
Crystal Rose Fricker
Crystal Rose-Fricker is the president of Pure Seed and Pure-Seed Testing Inc. Her family has 3 generations in Oregon Ag. over the last 40 years. She has developed 403 turf and forage grass cultivars, 138 of which are on the European Union list. Over 1 billion lbs. of seed have been produced of PST cultivars to date.
She has made her mark in research and breeding for over 40 years, during which she earned the NCCPB Genetics and Plant Breeding Award for Industry and was recently honored with both the Fred Grau Turfgrass Science Award and the Breeder’s Cup Award. She has also been recognized as the “6th most influential women in Golf” by Sports Illustrated magazine. Her leadership in the grass seed industry was honored by the Oregon State University College of Agricultural Sciences Distinguished Alumni Leader Award.
She is the first incoming chair ASTA and is actively involved in the European Seed Association, International Seed Federation, Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance, Oregon Seed Association, Pacific Seed Association, and the TBA, a National Breeders Association for grasses.
Vice President
Austin Fricker
At the young age of 13, Austin Fricker began his tenure at Pure-Seed Testing Inc. as a summer research technician, sparking a lifelong passion for the seed industry. After earning his undergraduate degree in Crop and Soil Science and International Politics and Policy from Oregon State University, where he successfully implemented sustainable agricultural practices in a Nicaraguan community farm project, Austin went on to pursue a Master of Science degree in Plant Breeding and Genetics, working with Dr. Shaun Townsend in the hop breeding program.
Returning to Pure Seed Testing as a full-time Plant Breeder in 2015, Austin's dedication and expertise were quickly recognized. Promoted to Vice President in 2017 and Production Manager in 2019, he continues to play a vital role in the company's success. Seed World named Austin the Future Leader of the Seed Industry and featured him in their 2023 Top Ten Next Gen Leaders article. Austin's leadership extends beyond Pure Seed, with his active involvement in various industry organizations, including the Turfgrass Breeders Association, the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program Policy Committee, and the Oregon Seed Association Science and Technology Committee.
Director of Research PST East
Melodee Fraser Phd.
Dr. Melodee Fraser, Director of Research at Pure Seed Testing-East in Rolesville, NC, earned her Ph.D. in turfgrass breeding from Rutgers University under the guidance of Dr. Reed Funk. Her primary research focus is developing tall fescue cultivars with improved summer performance, while her secondary objective includes creating seeded turf-type bermudagrass and zoysiagrass cultivars. In addition, Dr. Fraser’s program evaluates and selects germplasm with enhanced heat and drought tolerance, disease resistance, and summer turf performance in Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, bentgrass, and fine fescue species. Recognized for her contributions to turfgrass science, Dr. Fraser was named a Distinguished Fellow of the Mississippi State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in 2019 and received the TBA Breeders Cup Award in 2016, along with Tar Heel II.
COMPANY MILESTONES
1974
PST Research Program Founded (Oregon)
1983
Hosted First Field Day
1991
PST East Program Founded (North Carolina)
2011
Co-Founded TWCA
2024
PST 50th Anniversary
MILESTONE VARIETIES
403 Varieties Developed Over Five Decades
17 Bentgrasses | 41 Fine Fescues | 18 Forages | 80 Kentucky Bluegrasses | 111 Ryegrasses
5 Poa trivialis | 103 Tall Fescues | 16 Seeded Bermudagrasses | 9 Seeded Seashore Paspalums
VARIETY TRAITS
Drought Tolerance
With water becoming an increasingly precious resource, TWCA® qualified turfgrass varieties offer a sustainable solution. They require up to 40% less water than conventional varieties, helping to conserve this vital resource without sacrificing a beautiful lawn.
Salt Tolerance
Our commitment to water conservation extends to brackish water irrigation. Through rigorous salt tolerance trials reaching 20,000 ppm NaCl (ocean levels average 35,000 ppm), we identify turfgrass varieties that persist in these conditions.
Traffic Tolerance
PST utilizes a traffic simulator to assess the impact of traffic on different types of turfgrasses, simulating the wear and tear of a real game.
Quick Establishment
Fast establishment means a thriving lawn, sooner. PST has revolutionized Kentucky bluegrass through its QuickBlue lineage that establishes at a rate similar to perennial ryegrass.
Disease Resistance
Our turfgrass varieties undergo rigorous screening under the most intense disease pressure imaginable.
Shade Tolerance
PST West features the world's largest privately owned trial dedicated to studying the effects of shade on turfgrass.
Heat Tolerance
Plots at PST East are put to the test by North Carolina's scorching heat and relentless humidity. Only the most resilient varieties survive. PST varieties thrive in tropical and subtropical climates.
Cold Tolerance
For decades, we've conducted rigorous cold germination trials across multiple grass species. This translates to a powerful selection of seeds specifically chosen to thrive in cool weather conditions.
Color
Our breeding program offers a spectrum of turfgrass colors, from rich, dark green to a stunning light blue. Find the perfect shade to complement your landscape vision.
Recovery
PST stress-tests its varieties with intense traffic, drought, salt, and minimal inputs. We then analyze recovery data to ensure lasting performance.
Low Maintenance
By selecting varieties that thrive under low fertility conditions, we are essentially breeding for efficiency. These grasses require less fertilizer, which saves you money and reduces environmental impact from excess fertilizer runoff.
Seed Yield
By focusing on varieties that produce high seed yields, we can get more seeds from a smaller area of land. This leads to more sustainable agriculture and longevity of the varieties and products we release to the market.
Sod Quality
Sod quality with built-in performance traits gives you unmatched results where you need it most.
Overseeding
We meticulously screen for overseeding traits that ensure success: rapid establishment, quick recovery, seamless transition, and dark green color.
Grazing
In our forage program, we ensure the highest standard for palatability is met for your animals: soft leaved, digestible, nutritional, and high in sugar.
Cutting
All Pure Seed forage varieties are bred with flexibility in mind - for cutting or grazing, across a wide range of soil types and climatic conditions.
Do you want five decades of multi-site R&D packed into a product you can rely on?
LOOK FOR
