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American Sesame Growers Association


picture of a combine going through a field planted with sesame close-up picture of the header of a combine going through a field planted with sesame

Mission Statement

The American Sesame Growers Association is organized to promote and encourage the establishment and maintenance of conditions favorable to the production of non-dehiscent varieties of sesame in the United States and to the marketing, processing and use of U.S. grown sesame in both domestic and export markets.

Non-dehiscent means adapted for mechanical harvesting with minimal loss.

ASGA was formed in February 2006 following a meeting of a group of sesame growers who concluded that:

  • They needed a voice in US farm programs to insure a "level playing field" with other field crops.
  • They needed to have a forum to interact with the sesame industry.
  • They needed to be able to interact among the different sesame growing regions to develop common goals and programs.

The initial goals are were to work with USDA and Congress to initiate an APH Multiple Peril Crop Insurance pilot program for sesame. This became a protracted project which resulted in our success when, on 28 October 2010, the Risk Management Agency (RMA) of USDA released the completed program for the 2011 crop. There is a pilot program in 29 counties in Texas and Oklahoma.

The second major accomplishment in 2010 was to receive permanent approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the use of S-metolachlor (Dual Magnum®) herbicide for the pre-emergent control of annual grasses and small seeded broadleaves.

This product had received temporary approval for use in the 2009 crop and again for the 2010 crop and has proved its ability to help increase yields.

The association's long-term goals include promoting the production and greater consumption of sesame in the United States and in foreign markets for both food and industrial uses.

As sesame is a relatively new crop to the United States, we have accepted the challenge of bringing our story to the US agricultural community, agricultural policy makers and the food industry. We would like to express our appreciation for the interest, encouragement and support we are receiving.

American Sesame Growers Association
4308 Centergate Street
San Antonio, TX 78217-4804
Tel: (210) 590-3352