Cleveland – LESCO has developed extensive research and development relationships with some of the nation’s top turfgrass programs. These partnerships bring turfgrass professionals access to turfgrass varieties, such as Padre Tall Fescue and Glenmont Kentucky Bluegraa.
Along with others, these two varieties were developed by Rutgers University professors and then licensed to LESCO for sales and marketing purposes. This year, the company’s seed varietie sales developed at Rutgers have resulted in a $239,000 payment from the company to Rutgers.
“Rutgers is undoubtedly one of the country’s finest turfgrass programs,” says Michael P. DiMino, LESCO’s president and chief executive officer. “LESCO has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the university that has been good for both of our organizations, and we look forward to many more years of working together to bring innovative and quality turfgrass varieties to lawn care, golf course, sod growers, sports turf and other turfgrass professionals across the country.”
In 2004, LESCO sold more than $60 million worth of turf seed and grew more than 32,000 acres of turfgrass. The company’s proprietary varieties include such well-known names as Princeville creeping bentgrass for golf course tees and fairways and Shamrock kentucky bluegrass for a wide range of residential and commercial property uses.