Does Monsanto Own Schumway Seeds?
I recently heard a rumor on the internet that Schumway seeds was owned by Monsanto, so I did a bit of my own research on the subject.
The Schumway seed catalog is one of my favorites, probably the one I look most forward to every year. Aside from the fact that they have such a wonderful selection of heirloom seeds, their catalog itself is such a joy to look through. It looks like something straight out of the 1800’s with a large format, plain black and white interior, drawings of plants instead of photographs, and always a beautiful in color cover worthy of framing. Recently, however, I heard that Schumway was owned by Monsanto in one way or another, something that broke my heart thinking I’d never get to order from my favorite seed catalog again.
Before tossing my Schumway catalog, however, I decided to give them benefit of the doubt and do a little of my own research. Seeds companies often buy and sell from one another in a long tangled web, but if you follow the strands, eventually you reach the end. I am now quite convinced that Monsanto does NOT own Schumway seeds and I can happily continue purchasing from them.
Schumway seeds is owned by Jung Seeds, and I believe therein is where the confusion lies. The Jung Seed Company was begun in 1907, eventually splitting into two completely separate companies. One was Jung Seed Company the other was Jung Farms. Jung Farms eventually became Jung Seeds Genetics and they were bought by Monsanto. Jung Seed Company, however, was never bought by Monsanto and remains to this day the same family-owned business it always was.
Some of the seeds Jung Seed Company sells are from a company called Seminis. Jung has been selling their seeds for quite a while, but recently Monsanto bought Seminis. Rather than deprive people of the seed varieties people had grown to love, Jung continues to sell the Seminis varieties (that were created long before Monsanto bought the company, and therefore have not been altered by Monsanto yet), but they list every single Seminis variety in plain sight on their website so consumers can avoid purchasing those seeds if they wish.
If you purchase from Jung Seeds (or Schumway which is owned by Jung Seeds), but want to avoid any Seminis varieties, you can read the list here.
Copyright © Amber Reifsteck ~ The Woodland Elf
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