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Burpee now owned by Monsanto? (updated) |
22 Comments |
| By Miranda in Green Living | January 7, 2007 | ||
Thanks to some fact checkers, I need to update. Burpee is not owned by Monsanto. Burpee is privately owned. Burpee DOES carry some Seminis seeds, and Seminis is now owned by Monsanto.
Angela posted a comment blogged about her findings.
http://plantsbulbs.suite101.com/blog.cfm/monsanto_seminis_and_burpee
From her article:
“A spokeperson for Seminis, Mica Veihman spoke with me this morning and answered all my questions. Veihman said Seminis has “no intent to purchase Burpee” and this supposed email message was a complete rumor.
Burpee is a dealer of Seminis garden products which is probably how this rumor originated. They have been a customer of Seminis for over 20 years. Other familiar seed catalog companies that purchase from Seminis are Jung Seed, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, and Park Seed. A full list of current distributors is available here.”
Thankfully this was just a nasty rumor.
Here is more Monsanto / Seminis info: http://www.seedalliance.org/index.php?page=SeminisMonsanto
original post below
———–
This came through my email earlier this week.
“A recent merger now announced says that W.Atlee Burpee & Co. Seeds has accepted a deal to be bought out by Seminis. This will mean that from the beginning of 2007 onward, Burpee will be operated as a subsidiary of Monsanto (a.k.a. Monsatan) Co., which has already bought out Seminis. Seminis and Burpee were the two largest American seed companies not affiliated with Monsatan until both were recently bought out by the multi-billion-dollar corporation.”
Yep, you read that correctly. What is being stated is that the big conglomerate, Monsanto, now owns Burpee seeds. Well, actually, Seminis is associated with Burpee seed, and Monsanto bought Seminis last spring for $1.4 billion in cash.
Truth or rumor, it is frightening to think about.
This is important as Monsanto creates RoundUp as well as terminator genes.
Monsanto also patents seeds so that they cannot legally be grown unless the seed is purchased from the company.
Additional Info:
http://idigmygarden.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2245
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2005/12/7/83510/2591
http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=208
This really frightens me – especially after watching “The Future of Food.” We need to think about where are seeds come from.
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Victoria E said,
Reminds me of the post I put on my blog earlier this week …
Liz said,
This is why it’s so important to support small seed purveyors like FEDCO Seeds in Maine, who last year decided not to carry any Seminis varieties. There are plenty of good seed companies that you can support without buying from Burpee.
Saving your own open-pollinated varieties is also always an option.
michael said,
I agree with Liz. We need to support the little guys here. I find greater quality going with heirloom seed providers. Steve, what was the name of the brand you went with last year?
Miranda said,
I agree! I recently joined seed savers. I am also hoping to trade seeds with friends and neighbors.
Check out http://www.seedsavers.org for some great seeds.
Miranda
Steve Balogh said,
I am going again with Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, they treated me well last year. (And gave me a plentiful amount in each package.
Ulrike said,
Last year, I purchased my seeds from Seed Savers, which Miranda linked, and Cook’s Garden http://www.cooksgarden.com/ and was pleased with both.
Victoria said,
Cook’s Garden is owned by Gurney, which, I believe, is ultimately owned by Monsanto.
Miranda said,
Sharon Astyk at Casaubon’s Book has a great list of seed catalogs
http://casaubonsbook.blogspot.com/2007/01/where-to-buy-your-seeds-and-where-not.html
Harry said,
This information is false, Burpee is NOT owned by Monsanto nor has it ever been. Burpee remains an independent privately owned seed and plant purveyor with a proud 131 year history of fulfilling the needs of home gardners across America
Angela England said,
I can not verify this information. Can you please email me at plantsbulbs@suite101.com and let me know where you got this memo from? I’d like to post it as a newsbreak but need to verify first.
Thanks, Angela
Angela England said,
OK, I actually just got off the phone with the Communications Director from Seminis and this is a rumor. Burpee DOES carry some of the garden products, as does Park Seed, Jonny’s Select, etc (not cooksgarden from what I saw on their website by the way); however they do not own the company and they have no intent to purchase.
Ulrike said,
What is your source for this? Seminis denies it, and I don’t see any indication anywhere that it’s true.
Miranda said,
I received the information from : http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/livingontheland
as well as from: http://www.idigmygarden.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2245
I am glad to hear that it is not true, but frightened to realize how many seed companies are owned by conglomerates.
Angela England said,
Angela
Angela England said,
Whoops – the above was supposed to say link to the truth.
I did a lot of phone calling and spoke with a spokewoman from Seminis. Click my name above to see the results.
http://plantsbulbs.suite101.com/blog.cfm/monsanto_seminis_and_burpee
Angela
Miranda said,
Angela,
Thank you for the wonderful link and information. I am glad that this rumor was dispelled.
Jeff said,
Thanks for the update.
Alisa Keimel said,
I was glad to see the revised and updated post. Wild rumoprs like this can have a very nasty impact on sales. As a representative of a seed company (Johnny’s Selected Seeds), I’d like to request that anyone who has a question of why Johnny’s carries some Seminis varieties to email or call us. I can be emailed at akeimel at johnnyseeds.com or you can call toll-free at 1-877-564-6697 and talk with any of our representatives.
Carrying Seminis varieties does not make a seed company evil. Seminis was around long before Monsanto bought them and many seed companies had relationships with Seminis that, depending on the circumstances, cannot be eliminated so simply. I can tell you that Seminis varieties make up a very small percentage of Johnny’s offerings and when we find a new variety from another vendor whose quality and uniqueness is comparable, we replace the Seminis variety. However, if Seminis has a variety that is truly unique and is quality seed, and our customers want it, we will provide it. Johnny’s mission is to provide quality, unique, and specialty varieties to its customers, period.
Speaking separately from Johnny’s, for my opinions are not necessarily the opinions of the company, I do not agree with Monsanto’s tactics or seeming lack of responsibility, especially to organic farmers. But I don’t jusge Seminis, who was purchased by them. Seminis doesn’t necessarily share Monsanto’s ethics either. The purcahse of their company could have been for purely financial and business reasons.
I would ask that before people react purely on emotion to a hot topic, especially one so close to the heart as GMO seed, that folks make sure they investiagte the facts and try to understand all sides of a situation before making rash judgments. Kudos to Angela for picking up a phone and calling, rather than speculating.
Just because something is written does not make it true; especially on the web. Research before reacting. In this case, someone severely misconstrued a press release and got the information completely wrong. I feel bad for Burpee seed, who probably lost some customers over this.
And for the record, Johnny’s has a position statement on GMO’s if anyone cares to take time to read it. Johnny’s has also signed the safe seed pledge and we are an active and responsible member of the seed community.
I’d like to finally say that if you make purchases from any company and are a customer, and you have a complaint, question, or accolade, PLEASE call the company you deal with and give them the courtesy to assist you or answer your questions before assuming the worst or blasting them on a blog or forum. Companies are generally in business to help people and the communities they live in. As a customer of many companies myself, I take a personal responsibility tocall any company I have a problem with to get facts or questions addresses. I’ll climb the ladder if I fail to get the customer service I expect. That doesn’t stop me.
Kindly,
Alisa Keimel
Sharon Swartz said,
I hate to destroy everyones favorite but FedCo does indeed sell seminis seeds
marion Yoder said,
In planning the layout of our CSA garden this year, we will not buy any seeds, or plants, from the Monsanto owned varieties. If you want to, that’s your call. If you don’t, here is a list ( from the Monsanto/Seminis site) of the varieties they own. I may have missed some, but I think we have most of them. These are not all hybrids, so you may be able to save seed from your favorites, like the polish linguisa tomato. Please help those of us who don’t wish to support Monsanto by forwarding this list to anyone you know who may be concerned. If you need a new place to buy seeds try Fed-co Seeds http://www.fedcoseeds.com who are dropping all monsanto varieties, or Baker’s Creek http://rareseeds.com or Seed Saver’s Exchange http://www.seedsavers.org , both dedicated to preserving our country’s unique heirlooms. none of these companys is endorsing this email, they are just where I will be buying most of my seeds. Thanks – Marion – The Shepherd’s Fold
BROCCOLI
Captain
Castle Dome
Coronado Crown
General
Heritage
Ironman
Legacy
Liberty
Major
Pacman
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Cielo Blanco
Cornell
Freedom
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Juneau
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Polish Linguisa
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Royesta
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Eclipse
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Yellow Star
CUCUMBER
Babylon
Burpee Hybrid II
Conquistador
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Ex 4506143
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Conquistador
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Desert Spring
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Ideal
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Red Line
Sahara
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SPINACH
Avenger
Barbados
Correnta
Hellcat
Interceptor
Melody
MIG
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Unipack 151
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Burpee Early Acorn
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Daria said,
We vote with our pocketbooks every time we make a purchase. Seminis makes a profit when companies buy their products wholesale to sell to their customers. Since Monsanto is the owner of Seminis, Monsanto makes a profit on companies selling Seminis products. It’s not rocket science. If you buy from Burpee, you indirectly support Monsanto practices financially. Tell companies what you want by voting with your pocketbook.
Paul said,
I agree with Daria in that every time we make a purchase, we vote. Alternative seed sources other than Seminis or its subsidiaries should be found for those people who are opponents of Monsatan’s policies and practices. There’s no way around it that if you buy seed from Seminis, you are supporting Monsatan. I personally have been buying my seeds from Johnny’s Selected Seeds. I have been very satisfied with them and their products I use, but this discussion leaves me wondering.
“However, if Seminis has a variety that is truly unique and is quality seed, and our customers want it, we will provide it. Johnny’s mission is to provide quality, unique, and specialty varieties to its customers, period.”
“Period”? Making a profit is then the primary goal regardless of how it is done. At least that is how it sounds to me. GMO seed is truly unique. Terminator gene planting is truly unique. Does that mean Johnny’s will sell them?
The above quoted statement does not follow with the spirit or letter of the pledge below:
{Johnny’s Selected Seeds was one of the original signers of the Safe Seed Pledge in 1999. We present the Safe Seed Pledge, as follows:
“Agriculture and seeds provide the basis upon which our lives depend. We must protect this foundation as a safe and genetically stable source for future generations. For the benefit of all farmers, gardeners, and consumers who want an alternative, we pledge that we do not knowingly buy or sell genetically-engineered seeds or plants. The mechanical transfer of genetic material outside of natural reproductive methods and between genera, families, or kingdoms, poses great biological risks as well as economic, political, and cultural threats. We feel that genetically engineered varieties have been insufficiently tested prior to public release. More research and testing are necessary to further assess the potential risks of genetically-engineered seeds. Further, we wish to support agricultural progress that leads to healthier soils, genetically diverse agricultural ecosystems and, ultimately, people and communities.”
Johnny’s invites organizations, governments, businesses, and individuals to join us in our support of the Safe Seed Initiative.}
I repeat that if you support Seminis, you are indirectly supporting Monsanto. It’s just another subversive tactic to spread their grip on controlling the food supply. If you don’t believe that, you need to wake up!