? who owns seed companies

[Use Less]

Around here I can buy garden seeds with at least 10 brand names. Many of the addresses are somewhere in the NE (I'm in W-NY), and are stamped that the seed is grown in the USA. Two of my favorites, Johnny's Selected Seeds and Renee's Garden, make a point on their websites of saying they are independent. Does that imply that others are not? I read the packages last night & can't find any that say they are part of a big concern (like maybe Monsanto or Dupont.) But I'm still wondering if the seed is all grown by a few huge concerns & packaged small. Any info? Thanks, Sue

[deb]

I assume that you are talking about non-farm seeds because that would take a book. However if you are talking about garden seeds, I think I found a site that will help you at Dave's Seeds: Who Owns What.
Example

Jung Seed
• Jung Seed
• Edmunds' Roses
• Horticultural Products and Services (HPS)
• McClure & Zimmerman Quality Flowerbulb Brokers
• R.H. Shumway Seeds
• Roots and Rhizomes
• Seymour's Selected Seeds
• Totally Tomatoes
• Vermont Bean Seed Company

deb
in wi

[rileyjo]

A lot of companies contract out the growing of seeds to individual farmers. They offer to pay a set amount for the farmer to produce a required quantity of seed. The contract may or may not have requirements on how the seed should be grown or treated after harvest.
There are lots of small seed producers out there who specialize in this or that and create a niche for themselves by supplying the "big guys"

[Aohtee]

This chart shows the 6 largest seed companies and their affiliates.

http://www.msu.edu/~howardp/seedindustry.pdf

[farmerbrian]

Originally Posted by Aohtee

This chart shows the 6 largest seed companies and their affiliates.

http://www.msu.edu/~howardp/seedindustry.pdf

besides the big companies in the middle of hte chart link Monsanto, I have never heard of a single one of those seed companies. I'm assuming those all sell commercial seed.

My question is where do the little guys that sell to home gardeners get all their seed? How many of them produce the seeds themselves?

[rileyjo]

I'm one of the little guys. It took me a few years to get to where I have enough varieites to offer a catalogue. I have to obey the Canadian regulations on selling seeds and be knowledgable about germination guarantees and seed purity.

About 80% of mine is grown on my farm. I do get small quantities from others in the trades that I make. My goal for this growing year is to have everything I offer 100% grown on this farm or on the land of friends where I can oversee the growing effort. My biz is expanding fast enough that I am willing to trust a few good folks to grow for me.

There are massive seed reselling companies based in Europe. Bulk commercial hybrid seeds is way cheaper than what is offered to the general public. Most of the biggies source their seed from somewhere else in bulk and re package for their cataloque and retail sales.

[blooba]

Well Monsanto own Seminis and after looking at their site I found this hidden in there. Not sure if they only exclusively carry Monsanto seeds or not but that is scary.
http://us.seminis.com/products/hg_dealer.asp

We do not sell directly to home gardeners; however, many Seminis products are available to consumers from U.S. and Canadian mail order and packet seed companies. The vendors below carry our newest products:
Burpee, W Atlee
300 Park Ave.
Warminster, PA 18974
Ph: (215)674-4900
Fax: (215)674-0838

Dege Garden Center
831 N Century Ave.
St Paul, MN 55119
Ph: (651) 739-8314
Fax: (651) 739-8326

E & R Seed Co.
1356 E. 200 S.
Monroe, IN 46772

Earl May Seed
208 N. Elm St.
Shenandoah, IA 51603
Ph712) 246-1020
Fax712) 246-1760

Garden Trends
355 Paul Rd.
Rochester, NY 14624
Ph: (716) 295-3600
Fax: (716) 295-3609

Gardens Alive
5100 Schenley Place
Lawrenceberg, IN 47025
Ph: (812) 537-8650
Fax: (812) 537-5108

Germania Seed Co.
5978 N. Northwest Hwy
Chicago, IL 60631
Ph: (773) 631-6631
Fax: (773) 631-4449

Johnnys Selected Seeds
955 Benton Ave.
Winslow, ME 04901
Ph: (207) 861-3900
Fax: (207) 861-8381

J.W. Jung Seed Co.
335 S. High St.
Randolph, WI 53956
Ph920) 326-3121
Fax920) 326-5769
Lindenberg Seeds
803 Princess Ave.
Brandon, Manitoba
Canada R7A 0P5
Ph: (204) 727-0575
Fax: (204) 727-2832

Mountain Valley Seed
1800 South West Temple #600
Salt Lake City, UT 84115
Ph: (801) 486-0480
Fax: (801) 467-5730

Park Seed
Hwy 254 N.
Greenwood, SC 29647
Ph864) 223-8555
Fax864) 941-4206
Rocky Mountain Seed Co.
6541 N. Washington
Denver, CO 80229
Ph: 303-623-6223
Fax: 303-623-6254

T & T Seeds, Ltd.
Box 1710
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canada R3C 3P6
Ph: (204) 895-9964
Fax: (204-895-9967

Tomato Growers Supply
P.O. Box 720
Fort Myers, FL 33902
Ph941) 768-1119
Fax941) 768-3476

Willhite Seed Co.
PO Box 23
Poolville, TX 76487
Ph: (817) 599-8656
Fax: (817) 599-5843

[talkingamoeba]

Sorry to see Johnny's on that list. I split my orders every year with Seeds of Change, Seed Savers Exchange, Territorial, High Mowing and Johnny's. Trying to get to where I save most of what we need, but not there yet.

[blooba]

Originally Posted by talkingamoeba

Sorry to see Johnny's on that list. I split my orders every year with Seeds of Change, Seed Savers Exchange, Territorial, High Mowing and Johnny's. Trying to get to where I save most of what we need, but not there yet.

Well if they are johnny's seeds from monsanto it is illegal to save the seeds, also it is illegal to save the seeds from any plants that may have been cross pollinated with the monsanto seeds.

They have sued and won over cases like that. There was a farmer that saved his seeds and the neighbors field had monsanto seeds. the farmer who saved his seeds field got cross pollinated with the monsanto seeds and he was forced to pay monsanto for years of seeds and was forced to destroy everything.

[freedomfrom4]

He should sue Monsanto for contaminating his field

[MaineFarmMom]

Originally Posted by blooba

Well if they are johnny's seeds from monsanto it is illegal to save the seeds, also it is illegal to save the seeds from any plants that may have been cross pollinated with the monsanto seeds.

Can you back that up with credible sources?

[talkingamoeba]

Originally Posted by blooba

Well if they are johnny's seeds from monsanto it is illegal to save the seeds, also it is illegal to save the seeds from any plants that may have been cross pollinated with the monsanto seeds.

They have sued and won over cases like that. There was a farmer that saved his seeds and the neighbors field had monsanto seeds. the farmer who saved his seeds field got cross pollinated with the monsanto seeds and he was forced to pay monsanto for years of seeds and was forced to destroy everything.

I purchase only seeds advertised as open pollinated. When claimed as such by the seller I can save the seeds. The farmer you mention is, I believe, Percy Smeizer. He was growing canola in Canada, what I never heard was if he had ever purchased Monsanto seed or grown it at the same time as an open-pollinated variety. I would like to think that a US court would see things differently if the farmer was growing an OP variety and Monsanto's "genetic litter" ended up in his seed DNA. Seriously, how can actual pollen drift be considered theft? If they want to claim ownership, they need to contain their poison I mean pollen. Otherwise why couldn't the farmer counter sue that his OP seed was contaminated by Monsanto's negligence? No different than an oil spill from a neighbor's operation ending up on his property.

[miboje]

Originally Posted by MaineFarmMom

Can you back that up with credible sources?

That farmer was in the movie, Food, Inc. I could not believe such a thing was possible or would ever be seriously considered in a court of flaw... I mean court of law, of course.

I am glad this info was posted. I will not be buying from any of those companies.

[Jean in Virginia]

I'm disappointed in Johnny's too.

We buy 90 % from Fedco, op corn and mangels from Shumway.

Orange banana paste tomatoes, oh yeah!

The sauce is not orange.

[rileyjo]

Good news....Johnnys announced recently that they are dissolving their relationship with Seminis.
Give me some time and I'll pop up some links on that.

There is a growing demand from the public for Safe food and seeds. I love all the interest in food diversity and open pollinated seeds. However, if everyone starts buying OP seeds and saves them with out giving care to preserving their purity, down the road it is going to be even harder to find pure, uncrossed heirloom seed stock.

[Allen W]

Originally Posted by talkingamoeba

I purchase only seeds advertised as open pollinated. When claimed as such by the seller I can save the seeds. The farmer you mention is, I believe, Percy Smeizer. He was growing canola in Canada, what I never heard was if he had ever purchased Monsanto seed or grown it at the same time as an open-pollinated variety. I would like to think that a US court would see things differently if the farmer was growing an OP variety and Monsanto's "genetic litter" ended up in his seed DNA. Seriously, how can actual pollen drift be considered theft? If they want to claim ownership, they need to contain their poison I mean pollen. Otherwise why couldn't the farmer counter sue that his OP seed was contaminated by Monsanto's negligence? No different than an oil spill from a neighbor's operation ending up on his property.

If this is the case I'm thinking of the guys story pretty well went up in smoke.

[Maplelawnfarm]

This is always such a confusing and disappointing topic to me : ( I cannot tell you how many hours I have agonized over the ethics of buying seeds!

[Paquebot]

Originally Posted by Maplelawnfarm

This is always such a confusing and disappointing topic to me : ( I cannot tell you how many hours I have agonized over the ethics of buying seeds!

Yes, it can be agonizing when politics and personal animosities are used in an attempt to humiliate others choices of what they should and should not grow in their gardens. The seeds don't care who produces or sells them as long as they get into the ground and allowed to complete their cycle of feeding people. Many bemoan the fact that old varieties from 100 years ago are gone and then turn around and advocate the extinction of those which have proved to be the most productive. I'm happy that we live in a country where we are free to make the choice of what we can grow in our gardens rather than having a government mandate telling us otherwise. When others want to dictate what I should and should not grow, I consider them little more than political wannabees.

Martin

[big rockpile]

I use to buy Seed for MFA here in Missouri but if Pennington needed Seed I would sell to them.

big rockpile

[MaineFarmMom]

Originally Posted by miboje

That farmer was in the movie, Food, Inc. I could not believe such a thing was possible or would ever be seriously considered in a court of flaw... I mean court of law, of course.

You cannot buy the genetically engineered seeds discussed in Food, Inc. at Johnny's. I don't know of any law that says you can't save those seeds but if there is one, credible sources could save someone an attack by Monsanto.

I completely over the idea of Monsanto being able to sue over cross pollination.