How to Avoid GMO/Monsanto
Learn why Monsanto and GMO is bad. See what companies have questionable seed-buy practices, and who sells safe seed.
What is GMO, and who is Monsanto?
A genetically modified organism (GMO) or genetically engineered organism (GEO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. These techniques, generally known as recombinant DNA technology, use DNA molecules from different sources, which are combined into one molecule to create a new set of genes. This DNA is then transferred into an organism, giving it modified or novel genes. (wiki)
The Monsanto Company is a U.S.-based multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation. It is the world’s leading producer of the herbicide glyphosate, marketed as “Roundup”. Monsanto is also the leading producer of genetically engineered (GE) seed; it sells 90% of the US’s GE seeds. (wiki) Seminis is also listed on this page often, they were bought out by Monsanto and cannot be considered a safe, no-GMO, company.
Why does it matter if seed has been genetically modified?
These books have excellent reviews at Amazon and go very in depth into the issues with Monsanto. Links open in a NEW window/tab so you can come back easily!
>> The Council for Responsible Genetics has an excellent FAQ page that will answer this pressing question. I invite you to visit this page on the CRG site and learn more.
Other links to read:
For more information, just Google Monsanto. Even search their own website – their own pledges about creating a healthy sustainable planet go against everything they manufacture and do. You can’t make Round Up then turn around and say you’re trying to save the enviroment.
Who sells “safe seed” (not genetically modified)
I get a lot of emails asking for help with folk’s research. I can’t do it all for everyone, but I did write up a post on how you can do the research. It can be difficult finding out if a company is supplied by Seminis/Monsanto, but this page helps make sense of it.—> Visit the “More on Avoiding Monsanto” blog post
(link opens in a new tab/window so you can easily return here)
Use this information as a starting point for your research. Call the companies you are interested in purchasing from and learn about their seed buying practices.
>> Visit this page, from the Council for Responsible Genetics. These companies have signed their safe seed pledge.
The following may be companies that sell only safe seed but have not signed the safe seed pledge (see link above).
Abundant Life Seeds
Amishland Seeds
Annapolis Valley Heritage Seed Company (Nova Scotia, Canada)
Diane’s Flower Seeds
Garden City Seeds
Heirlooms Evermore Seeds
Heirloom Seeds
High Mowing Seeds
Horizon Herbs
Irish-Eyes
Lake Valley Seeds
Livingston Seeds
Local Harvest
Mountain Rose Herbs
Organica Seed
Pinetree
Sand Hill Preservation Center
Seeds of Change
Southern Exposure
Sustainable Seed Co (added on request of the company)
Tiny Seeds
Uprising Seeds
Virtual Farm Seed Co (added on the request of the company)
Wildseed Farms
Now, who to avoid?
These are companies currently, or at one time, known to sell seeds from Seminis and/or Monsanto. If you think a company doesn’t belong here, email with with information about the company’s seed practices. If they are supplied even in part by Seminis/Monsanto, they won’t be moved to the safe seed list.
Anderson’s Seed & Garden, Inc
Audubon Workshop
Ball Horticultural Company
Breck’s Bulbs
Bunton Seed
Burpee
Cook’s Garden
Corona Seeds
DeBruyn Seed Company, Inc.
Dege Garden Center
Earl May Seed
Early’s Farm & Garden Centre
E & R Seed Co
El Seed
Farmer Seed & Nursery
Flower of the Month Club
Ferry Morse – For more information on Ferry Morse (I’m getting a TON of emails because they are also listed on the CRG page, please see my note on facebook)
Fukuda Seed Store
Gardens Alive
Germania Seed Co
Garden Trends, Inc.d/b/a Harris Seeds
Germania Seed Company
Grimes Horticulture
H.F. Michell Company
HPS
Jungs
Lindenberg Seeds
McClure and Zimmerman Quality Bulb Brokers
Meyer Seed Co of Baltimore, Inc
Mountain Valley Seed
Ontario Seed
Ornamental Edibles
Osborne
Otis S. Twilley Seed Co., Inc.
Park Seed
Park Bulbs
Park’s Countryside Garden
P. L. Rohrer & Bro., Inc.
R.H. Shumway
Rocky Mountain Seed Co
Roots and Rhizomes
Rupp
Seeds for the World
Seminova
Seymour’s Selected Seeds
Snow
Southern States Cooperative, Incorporated
Stokes
Spring Hill Nurseries
Totally Tomato
T&T Seeds
Tomato Growers Supply
The Page Seed Company
The Vermont Bean Seed Company
Tomato Growers Supply Company
Vesey’s Seeds
Vis Seed Company, Inc.
Wayside Gardens
Willhite Seed Co.
William Dam SeedsSeminis’ home garden dealer list:http://www.seminis.com/global/us/products/Pages/Home-Garden.aspx
Farm seed for Canada:http://www.seminis.com/global/us/products/Pages/Canada.aspx
Other helpful links:
Monsanto’s Seed Brands
Monsanto Vegetable Seeds
Monsanto’s Seed Brands
Monsanto Vegetable Seeds
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