Re: Thompson & Morgan

**Scott scott@moosepondarts.com>**

Graham and all,

As I read your post, I heard echoes of many discussions I've had at Seeds of
Change over the years about those "other seed companies" that buy all their
seeds on the wholesale market. Mere "repackers" with no heart and soul.
Well, not only is SoC the biggest supplier of organically-grown,
open-pollinated garden seeds in the U.S., one thing that sets SoC apart,
with companies like T&M, is that we trial all of our varieties at our New
Mexico Research Farm and Trial Gardens as well as on the farms of many of
our growers. Where we part company with T&M and the industry in general is
that we're not contributing to the tons and tons of toxic herbicides and
pesticides that are ubiquitous throughout the commercial seed industry.

On plant improvement sid of things, last month the Research Farm hosted a
workshop for some of our growers with renowned plant breeder John Navasio on
OP plant breeding fundamentals (See our upcoming June eNewsletter) and we
are continuing with our modest breeding and selection program. As we move
into the bulk seed market for small growers, we've initiated a new field
trial program involving organic growers from several bioregions. Our seed is
produced almost exclusively by Seeds of Change and through this network of
small family farms under the supervision of our Ag planner and research farm
manager. Final seed cleaning is done at our Santa Fe facility and
germination testing is carried our by an independent lab.  So even though we
are a tiny company by Burpee standards we are doing a lot more than buying
and packing seeds.

If you're interested we're at http://www.seedsofchange.com

Incidentally, My wife Zizi and I re-wrote and re-edited and re-designed the
SoC catalog this year. We also introduced 43 new merchandise items and
photographed over a hundred new varieties. (She's the designer/webmaster,
I'm the word/picture guy.) I hope you all received a copy way back when. If
you didn't and you'd like one please contact me off list and I'll send you
one. We'd love to hear any feedback as we gear up to do it all again. We're
currently working on a new website for next season.

Happy Spring to all,

Scott Vlaun
Editor, Seeds of Change eNewsletter
editor@seedsofchange.com

Graham Rice wrote:

> A few days ago there was some comment about retail seed companies,
> including T&M, buying in all their seed from wholesalers. Well,
> actually, T&M are one of the few retail seed companies with a
> substantial breeding programme of their own and also their own seed
> production business.

> Anyway, T&M are almost unique amongst retail companies in breeding
> and producing a great deal of their own seed - and even selling it to
> other seed houses. You can find out more at
> http://www.thompson-morgan.com/wholesale/index.html.
>
> Graham Rice
>
> http://GrahamRice.com
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