b'Never had I met people so passionate about an industry or line of work.LISA BRANCOLisa Branco, general manager of Radicle Seed Company and sales manager of Headstart Nursery, was born and raised in the Salinas Valley, where she was surrounded by agriculture. While she knew she was drawn to agriculture, it wasnt until she took her first agriculture class at Hartnell to decide that she was completely hooked on the idea. After graduating from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Calif., with a bachelors degree in Agribusiness, her dive into the seed industry began. Branco started her career at Radicle Seed Company & Headstart Nursery, two sister companies headquartered in Gilroy, Calif., which gave her the opportunity to start from the ground and work her way up. She says what really caught her attention about the seed industry was the people. Never had I met people so passionate about an industry or line of work. From the beginning, everyone has been so friendly, helpful and encouraging. Not only that, but Branco says the seed industry is essential, and she is proud to be a part of an industry thats responsible for feeding the world. Now, 17 years later, she still finds herself at Radicle & Headstart, and she enjoys going to work every day! Her response? When you find something youre truly passionate about, it doesnt feel like work.A fun fact about Branco is, while she can recommend products from artichokes to zucchinis, she jokes that she doesnt have a green thumb herself. I leave the growing to the pros, she says.ERIC CHRISTIANSONEric Christianson, crop specialist and crop coordinator of Rijk Zwaan, says that his family has been involved in the seed industry since his great-grandfather immigrated to the United States from Sweden. I often remember picking vegetables from the garden, cultivating my interest in natural sciences and my dad bringing seed clients over for dinner from all over the world, he remi-nisces. After high school, Christianson studied crop science and agribusiness at Washington State University, which was where he caught the bug for research. He continued his education with a masters degree in plant pathology with a portion of his studies focusing on plant genetics and breeding, and after completing it, began working with Rijk Zwaan in Salinas, Calif. He says one thing that caught his eye about the seed industry was that, We work at the vanguard of the food supply chain, and although the industry is relatively small, I am proud that we supply such a vital product to agriculture. He mentions the seed industry has a Were all in this together attitude, thats downright inspiring. Even though his job focuses on spinach, which he admits is a stimulating and challenging crop to work in, both logistically and genetically, Christianson really loves working with radishes. Red radish is a quick turnaround crop, maturing between 21 and 60 daysBecause of this quick turnaround and the incredibly specific genetic by environment interaction, there are some challenges with finding varieties that work, consistently, he says. This chal-lenge, he says, makes it a great, strategic crop to work in. In the future, Christianson is excited to see what new advanced breeding technologies can bring to the table as solutions and challenges for the seed industry.JUNE 2020SEEDWORLD.COM /37'