Seed Suppliers

[Sue]

I recently read that Monsanto and their ilk own about 90% of the seed suppliers in the world -obviously this is mostly agricultural, but who owns the seed companies in the UK, does anyone know?
I really don't want to put any of my money into Monsanto etc's hands
Sue

[mazel-bee]

I know the family of seeds of Italy currently live in England. It has always been a family business that produce their own seeds with wonderful ethics.

[nick the grief]

It's a tricky one that as I guess that most seed companies only sell seed that is produced elswhere ( and could well be Monsanto) Kings are one of the few companies that produce their own seed that I know of.

[Geordie]

Sue,

Try these guys: http://www.realseeds.co.uk/about.html

I can recommend as first class.

[madderbat]

Great link, thanks Geordie. I must admit I hadn't really thought about this aspect before, but have avoided F1 hybrids as being impossible to use seeds from. Scary thought though, that world food production can be so controlled.


Just checked out Monsanto site. http://www.monsanto.com/monsanto/layout/
Products seem to be limited to corn, cotton and oilseeds worldwide, I seem to remember that they cornered the Asian rice market too. Their subsidiary company Seminis supplies cucumber, pumpkin, pepper, tomato and watermelon seed to home gardeners as well as farmers. These are hybrids though and would (should) be marked F1. Their website states that they operate in Brazil, Chile, India, Korea, Mexico and US/Canada. The European map states that they have forthcoming activity in Spain, Germany and Italy, but not UK (yet).

[pigletwillie]

I concur Geordie, they are fabulous indeed.

[muckdiva]

Another vote for
www.realseeds.co.uk
Great ethic and interesting seed collection. Their variety descriptions are the most entertaining too!

[User Removed]

Most of the seed suppiers are owned by one large company (T&M, DTBrown, Mr Fothergills ect). Kings and the real seed catalogue are the main two smaller companies that produce most of their own seeds.

Kings grow 40% of their plants grown for seed taking in their main site in devon. The other 60% comes from other private land owners (small farms ect). High quality seeds, low prices

Real seeds grow all of their seeds at their main site I belive (I don't know as much about Real Seeds) and they have some real good seeds.

Kings and Real seeds are the best

[Two_Sheds]

I like the Organic Catalogue:

http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/

[bramble]

Adam, I know maybe this is not the right place to post this.
Last Oct\Nov. i placed an order with you and never received an answer.
In Jan. i contacted you and you said to send the order again, which i did.
You sent me an email saying you would send them out shortly.
I'm afraid i am still waiting with not another word.
I feel very let down.
If you could not send the order it would have been nice to at least let me know.

Bramble. (Gabrielle)

[Sue]

Adam and Madderbat
Thanks for the replies, I've used Real Seeds and agree they are very good, haven't used Kings but will send off for a catalogue pronto.

Also trying not to buy imported plants and seeds so it's good to know Kings produce most of their own.

Green awareness seems to be slow coming to plantbuying, it infuriates me to see the huge lorries carrying plants and flowers from Holland and Germany thundering through the town... and as for all the flowers being flown in from around the world, if you can't grow your own you can get wonderful bouquests from Wiggly wigglers all produced on their farm, my mum was thrilled with hers and her birthday is in December yet they still managed to find a huge variety of flowers and leaves. Good packaging too, all went in the compost heap.
Sue

[Earthbabe]

That's good to know Sue. I'd seen the bouquets in the catalogue but didn't know anyone with any experience of them.

Will bear that in mind as they are fairly good value, delivered too.