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Seed catalogs for the upcoming growing season are arriving in mailboxes across the Northern Hemisphere with home growers everywhere starting to plan which seeds they will sow in freshly composted garden. A positive trend in recent years is the growing number of gardening enthusiasts choosing to plant gardens using organic and/or heirloom seeds.
What most of these home gardeners don’t realize is that corporate behemoth and GMO titan Monsanto has been gobbling up the seed market faster than a caterpillar can munch a tomato plant! With one fell swoop in 2005, Monsanto grabbed approximately 40% of the US vegetable seed market with its acquisition of Seminis.
This means that a home gardener could unknowingly be supporting the development and proliferation of genetically modified crops if the seeds used are from Seminis. In addition, Monsanto now apparently owns the trademark for many of the names of the heirloom seed varieties themselves!
Planting a sustainable home garden is much more than just choosing certified organic seeds and seedlings, eschewing pesticides/herbicides and using organic compost. This is because Monsanto has cleverly positioned itself to make money off the home gardening trend.
Does this mean that even if you buy organic or heirloom seeds from a completely independent company some of your purchase might be supporting the bad guys?
Yes, it does.
Surprise!
Home gardeners would do well to bone up on where to purchase their seeds so they aren’t inadvertently doing business with companies that maintain a working relationship with Monsanto-Seminis or were acquired by them.
Buying Organic or Heirloom Seeds Without Supporting Monsanto
Here are the recommended steps for the 2014 growing season for those who want to truly strike a blow for sustainability in every way with their home gardens:
Avoid buying from the seed companies affiliated with Monsanto. Here’s a list of these seed companies by location (enter you zipcode for a list of dealers to avoid).
- Buy from companies Monsanto HASN’T bought and are not affiliated or do business with Seminis: The graphic above indicates numerous companies that are worthy of your patronage as compiled by the International Seed Saving Institute. Please note that this many not be a complete list. If your seed company does not appear, just be sure to clarify with the owner about any potential affiliation with Monsanto-Seminis before buying from them.
- Avoid buying heirloom varieties for which Monsanto owns the trademark.
- Ask seed companies if they have taken the Safe Seed Pledge. Here’s a list of companies that have taken the Safe Seed Pledge and believe in responsible plant genetics. These are good companies to buy from.
Background on Monsanto’s Quest for World Seed Domination
Monsanto’s corporate quest is clearly to make money on each and every one of us whether we choose to eat supermarket frankenfoods produced with abominable, patented GM crops or carefully plant and tend an organic garden at home. Here’s some background information on the subject you may find interesting as well as enlightening:
If you are a home gardener and have information to contribute regarding these steps, please add to the discussion in the comments section. Also, please spread the word via gardening forums you may participate in that folks need to be very careful when seed sourcing for their spring gardens this year else they might be unknowingly supporting Monsanto.
Let’s make this the year when Monsanto’s grip on the worldwide seed market loosens and the movement to seed sustainability gains momentum!
Update
The day after this article was originally published in 2013, the CEO of a large GMO soybean seed company in the Midwest emailed me complaining that the article was short-sighted and insisting that Monsanto is helping feed the starving people of the world. He even went so far as to say that GMO crops are “proven safe”. Click here for the text of this CEO’s entire email plus my written reply.
I have also received email complaints from two other seed companies, one in Canada and one in Arkansas, that do business with Monsanto-Seminis and were offended by what they viewed as inaccuracies in the post. In response, I have adjusted the text slightly and moved linked sources to within the text rather than only listed at the end to make the message of the post as clear and precise as possible so as to not result in any consumer confusion over the information.
I have received no complaints about this article from seed companies completely independent of any affiliation or ties to Monsanto-Seminis.
More Information
Why I Avoid Organic Hydroponic Produce
The Hydroponic Invasion of USDA Organic
Heirloom vs Hybrid Produce
Photography Credit
News to me that Monsanto can own an open pollinated variety that has been on the market for years and that countless other seed companies grow in their own supply. Other comments have been made to clarify this. A British Columbian seed growers email group has talked about these “lists” of bad vs. good and have decided it is not accurate. Perhaps home gardeners can look for seed companies who actually grow the seed they sell. Then you know the profits do not go to Monsanto.
Monsanto owns Seminis. All I am saying is, if you buy ANYTHING from Seminis or from someone who bought it from Seminis, you are buying it from Monsanto. What is so difficult to understand about that??
It is difficult to understand because not all the varieties listed are coming from Seminis. Seminis produces them but they are not the only seed company who produces that seed. Take Marketmore 76 seed as an example, Seminis produces this seed, but other non-Monsanto affiliated seed companies also produce this seed. By spreading information that leads a reader to believe that all Marketmore 76 seeds are Monsanto tainted is misleading and unethical. It would be much more ethical to guide users to discuss,with the seed company they purchase from, where their seeds come from. Not all seed companies that do business with Seminis are bad companies, some have done business with Seminis for decades.
If I buy verified non-gmo, non-seminis seed from a seed company that produces the seed themselves, but also offers Seminis seed, what is wrong with that? I would not be putting money into Monsanto, correct?
Bottom line is that if we put small seed companies out of business because a limited amount of their seeds are bought from a Monsanto affiliate, we are contributing to the demise of small seed companies and Monsanto wins that way as well aka not as much competition.
Instead make an informed decision to not buy Monsanto Products, not put out of business small companies who have done business with Seminis for years prior to the Monsanto buyout! Contact your seed company and only buy seed that they either produce themselves or come from a non-Monsanto affiliated seed company! You will be sending an even bigger message to these companies, supply and demand. If people do not buy these seeds then these companies will eventually phase these seeds out!
Nicole, this one statement of yours: “Not all seed companies that do business with Seminis are bad companies, some have done business with Seminis for decades. ” tells me you are missing at least part of the point….
No, not all companies that do business with Seminis are “bad” companies HOWEVER, some of us do not want ANY of our money to end up in the bank account of Monsanto. Therefore, we do not want to do business with any company that buys seed from Seminis.
To simplify: You buy from Company X- Company X buys the seed from Seminis- Seminis is owned by Monsanto- your money goes to Monsanto.
So, if you want to do business with a company that is buying seeds from Seminis, find out WHICH seeds and don’t buy those. I would also urge those companies to find other sources for seed.
The problem is there is no simplified answer. If as a consumer you do not buy seed that comes from Monsanto, Seminis, De Reuters…etc your money will not be going to them, period.
But not buying any product from a company because it sells a limited amount of seed from those companies is only helping Monsanto void the market of it’s competition.
Example: a seed company has 10 seeds that it supplies its customers with that come from Seminis. The company also grows its own seed with hundreds of other varieties not associated with Monsanto. Your options are to boycott the company and subsequently but that company out of business or simply not buy the Seminis seed. Your option being the former, my option being the latter.
Makes complete sense to have a small company go out of business clearing the market of Monsanto competition, making hundreds of people unemployed and next time an uninformed person goes to buy seed there is one less option for that uninformed person to go to and most likely they will end up at a big box store buying Monsanto seed. But, as long as the money that was in your possession doesn’t go to Monsanto though it is ok, right?
By making a conscience decision to not purchase those particular seeds from that company you are doing more good than just simply dropping them, keeping people employed, and by virtue of supply and demand those seeds will be dropped and other seed choices will be available.
But hey if you really think that boycotting a small seed company that produces some of its own varieties of seeds is going to put Monsanto out of business, have at it. You are only hurting the entire cause and making it easier for Monsanto to rule!
Add this one to the list.
Harvest your own seed in the fall. All plants set seed one way or another. Using your own seed will guarantee that you are not using GM seeds. We have grown wildflowers and our garden for over 40 years and love the food from it. We also eat all the food including costmetically scarred foods and mulch the residue. We also farm and can attest that some of our local “Organic Farmers” spray theri feilds at night and buy non organic farmers crops and mix them with their so called Organic product. So don’t be fooled by their stamp of approval. GROW YOUR OWN. If ou live in the city, (I feel sory for you) find ways to grow food on vacant lots or hydroponically inside. And give theexcess to the street people to better their health. Then start finding ways to convince the Managers of business (people) to allow their workers to produce from home. There is nothing more insane than a population sitting in a traffic jam because they, first of all have to dirve where the managers are, all at the same hour for the manager’s convenience! Our independance is at stake and Monsantois just the easy target.
Corporate Serfs Unite! A change in society is due, but we can change our lifestyle now. Sitting in front of a computer at home avoids the gas, the resources in a vehicle and tires, and a whole lot of time.
Thank you for your very informative and valuable site. I have had spotty success trying to remineralize my teeth with diet since April 2012. I’m sure you know it can be a daunting task to completely change the way you eat, especially when you live with someone that is a junkfood junky. Though I’ve been cutting down on grains and mostly get my protein from wild caught seafood, pastured or grass fed animals, their organ meats and dairy, I didn’t know how important raw grass fed butter was… until I hear you mentioned, on the Oralwellness Summit, that the first thing you would recommend to cure a cavity was raw grass fed high vitamin butter oil. I already had some raw grass fed butter in the refrigerator, but I never used it and opted for the pasteurized grass fed butter instead to save money. That night after hearing your lecture, I took a heaping spoon full of raw grass fed butter before bed and was more than surprised to see how powerful it was. Within 30 seconds, it completely dissolved the plaque from all my teeth. Since then, I’ve been taking a heaping spoon full before bed every night and all my Periodontal problems have just about completely disappeared. Thank you for your dedication and for you efforts in getting the truth out.
Thank you for your very informative and valuable site. I have had spotty success trying to remineralize my teeth with diet since April 2012. I’m sure you know it can be a daunting task to completely change the way you eat, especially when you live with someone that is a junkfood junky. Though I’ve been cutting down on grains and mostly get my protein from wild caught seafood, pastured or grass fed animals their organ meats and dairy, I didn’t know how important raw grass fed butter was… until I hear you mentioned, on the Oralwellness Summit, that the first thing you would recommend to cure a cavity was raw grass fed high vitamin butter oil. I already had some raw grass fed butter in the refrigerator, but I never used it and opted for the pasteurized grass fed butter instead to save money. That night after hearing your lecture, I took a heaping spoon full of raw grass fed butter before bed and was more than surprised to see how powerful it was. Within 30 seconds, it completely dissolved the plaque from all my teeth. Since then, I’ve been taking a heaping spoon full before bed every night and all my Periodontal problems have just about completely disappeared. Thank you for your dedication and for you efforts in getting the truth out.
Thank you so much for this article! Your links and follow-up are truly informative and helpful. Some suggestions I have: 1. Find that person in your neighborhood who is “the gardener”. There is always one, you’d be surprised, and usually this is the person who has the true heirlooms and is willing to give or sell you seeds and seedlings (as well as advice).
2. This same person will also probably tell you, “Save your seeds!” Do it, please! Letting just one plant of each variety go to seed will give you more seeds than you know what to do with. Share them, use them. Keep them in a locked vault otherwise. “They” aren’t coming to take your guns, they’re coming to take your seeds! (Ok that sounds a little paranoid, but it makes much more sense in the larger picture, don’t you think?)
This is the first year that I will be planting heirloom seeds. I’m very glad that I ran across this informative post before it’s time to start my garden. Thank you.
Kitazawa Seed Company is the oldest seed company in America specializing in Asian vegetable seeds. http://www.kitazawaseed.com/
Does anyone know if they have they been bought by Monsanto-Seminis?
This article, and the ‘Monsanto-owned-names’ claim and list isn’t entirely correct. I am an organic seed grower, and want to clear things up a bit for folks. First, Monsanto does not own the names of ANY heirloom varieties. Period.
Monsanto (Seminis) owns ONLY the names of the F1 hybrid varieties, as these varieties are inherently proprietary — only they know the parental lines that were crossed to produce the F1. The open-pollinated varieties on this list (Black Beauty eggplant, Marketmore 76 cucumber, Habañero pepper, Hungarian Yellow Hot Wax pepper) are NOT owned by Monsanto. These varieties are grown and sold by countless independent seed companies (some of them by us as well), and trust me, Monsanto doesn’t get one red cent of royalties, as they do not own the names of these open-pollinated varieties.
These open-pollinated varieties are on this list because they are ALSO GROWN by Seminis, NOT OWNED by Seminis. Seminis is one of many, many companies growing and selling these fine varieties that have stood the test of time.
If you want to empower yourselves when it comes to buying seed, get to know your seed source. Ask informed questions. Talk to your farmers and your seed-growers, and do your own research. The above list has been re-posted on many sites, and cited many times. I understand the desire to not support Monsanto in any way, as I share this desire.
Hope this helps…I’m happy to help answer folks’ questions on this issue if they feel so inclined to get in touch.
Good luck out there,
Justin Huhn
http://www.occupymonsanto360.org )