In 1977, Sakata Seed America (SAI) was established in San Francisco. It did not take long for our seeds to become popular on the American market and for Sakata to expand its share in the broccoli, cabbage, melon, and pansy markets. As a result, F1 Broccoli sales increased significantly and our market share jumped to 50%. Seeds of the spinach for Japan then entered the fray, with production and sales of these also leading to a 50% share of the Japanese spinach market.

In July 1979, the company's management ranks were reorganized again. Chairman Takeo Sakata relinquished his role of advisor to then president Masayuki Sakata, and a new president, Zenichiro Kaneko, was inaugurated.