PST INSIDE | www.pureseed.com

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 398 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 where she earned the NCCPB Genetics and Plant Breeding award for Industry and she has been recognized with 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 NW Executive V.P. for ASTA and is actively involved in the European Seed Association, International Seed Federation, Oregon 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 is the Director of Research at Pure Seed Testing-East, Rolesville, NC. Dr. Fraser received a Ph.D. in turfgrass breeding from Rutgers University, under the direction of Dr. Reed Funk. Dr. Fraser’s primary research responsibility is the development of tall fescue cultivars with improved summer performance. Her secondary research objective is the development of seeded turf-type bermudagrass and zoysiagrass cultivars. Dr. Fraser’s research program also evaluates and selects germplasm with improved heat and drought tolerance, disease resistance, and summer turf performance in Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, bentgrass, and fine fescue species.

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

400 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.