Sod Production Services, a division of Riverside Turf, was formed to fund research for and market new turfgrass varieties, license sod producers nationwide to grow proprietary grasses, and offer agronomic consulting services to the turfgrass industry.
Al Hunter has joined Sod Production Services as director of business development. The first grass in the Sod Production Services portfolio is PremierPRO Bermuda Grass.
Riverside Turf has announced the launch of Sod Production Services, a division of Riverside Turf. The new division will lead the company’s efforts to fund research for and market new turfgrass varieties, license sod producers nationwide to grow these proprietary grasses and offer a community approach to agronomic consulting services in the turfgrass industry. Al Hunter has joined the Sod Production Services staff as director of business development. The first grass in the Sod Production Services portfolio is PremierPRO Bermuda Grass, supported by Team PremierPRO.
Hunter will work alongside well-known turfgrass industry expert Brian Walker at Riverside Turf, to achieve the company’s mission to create a new business model in the turfgrass licensing segment—one that focuses on a team approach to sod production, sales and distribution with a dedication to science-based claims, customer support and agronomic consultancy.
Wells Hula, president of Riverside Turf, said bringing in Hunter will help Sod Production Services to quickly expand and explore the company’s mission to approach turfgrass licensing and support in a new way.
“Al Hunter has nearly a decade of turfgrass experience,” Hulla said. “He’s spearheaded nationwide programs to successfully distribute sod through wholesale and retail outlets. He understands the needs of the sod producer, and of the end-user, and is able to plan and implement programs and procedures that benefit everyone involved in the success of a turfgrass variety. His innovative approach will be a great benefit to Sod Production Services, to our grasses and to our customers.”
Hunter is a graduate of the turf management program at North Carolina State and holds an MBA in Business from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has held strategic positions at Buy Sod and Scotts/Miracle Grow.
