Just the Facts

12 January 2013, by gj

There are a lot of rumors and misunderstanding floating around the internet, specifically ones concerning genetically engineered seeds.

Not GE seeds, Not owned by Monsanto

Here are the facts:

A few years back Monsanto bought a seed company named Seminis. This company had been in business for a long time prior to the buyout.
There are a large number of seed companies that have purchased quality seed from Seminis, and continue to do so. These seeds are NOT genetically engineered.

Burpees is one of the companies that has for many years purchased seed from Seminis, and continues to do so. Burpees is NOT owned by Monsanto.

Likewise, Johnny’s Select Seeds and many other seed companies continue to buy some of their seed from Seminis. Again, these seeds are not genetically engineered.

Not GE seeds, employee owned

Currently there are only 2 ways to buy GE seeds:

One is if you own a farm, and sign a contract with Monsanto to purchase seed from them.
The other way is by accident. There is a great deal of concern that pollen from GE corn if flowing in the winds and pollinating non-ge corn, especially heirloom corn. Even still, most companies test their seed to be sure it is true before selling it.

So the choice is, of course, yours.
Purchasing from fine seed companies such as the ones mentioned will give a very small amount of support in a round about way to Monsanto, if you happen to buy a seed from Seminis.
Your other choice is to contact or research seed companies to see who does not carry Seminis seed. Baker Creek is one such company, but they do limit themselves to heirloom seed only.

What we do is buy heirlooms as much as possible and save our own seeds, purchase hybrids when we need to; and try to fight Monsanto on the larger scale- namely through emails to our Representatives when an appropriate bill is coming up, and by spreading the facts and squashing the rumors.

Please share this post with others, so they will be armed with the truth.

More from Burpee, with a good history of Seminis seed company
More from Johnny’s Select Seed