Bayer CropScience buys lettuce seed company Paragon

FRANKFURT, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Bayer CropScience said on Wednesday its vegetable seed unit Nunhems has acquired U.S. lettuce seed company Paragon Seed.

Paragon had sales of $8.5 million in 2006, BayerCropScience said in a statement without disclosing further financial details.

"With this step Nunhems strengthens its position in the lettuce seed market in the Americas," the company said.

The lettuce seed market, with a volume of about $60 million, is one of the three most important vegetable markets in the United States, Bayer CropScience said, adding that Nunhems was a leader in this segment in Europe.

Bayer CropScience AG is a subsidiary of Bayer AG BAYG.DE with sales of about 5.7 billion euros in 2006. (Reporting by Nicola Leske; Editing by Quentin Bryar)