GMO Seeds, Part 2 The Truth about Burpee Seed and GMO’s

Burpee is a family seed company, located in the Philadelphia area, and is owned and operated by George Ball, Jr., Burpee’s Chairman and CEO. The legacy of the Burpee family, W. Atlee Burpee, and the Burpee Seed Company are an entire history lesson in itself. They are family dynasty that began developing, sprouting, and growing seeds over a century ago, and they are still blooming and flourishing today. Burpee Seed is now a trusted household name; but recently, Burpee has fallen under controversy over allegations of buying and selling GMO seeds.

On Burpee’s website, Mr. Ball states, “I and others at Burpee are asked occasionally about our alleged connection to Monsanto and whether we sell GMO seed. We have even been accused of being owned by Monsanto on the Internet.” (1) Ball puts rumors of a connection between Burpee, GMO and Monsanto to rest by stating the following; “For the record, I own W. Atlee Burpee & Co. Burpee is NOT owned by Monsanto. We do purchase a small number of seeds from the garden seed department of Seminis, a Monsanto subsidiary, and so do our biggest competitors. We do NOT sell GMO seed, never have in the past, and will not sell it in the future.”(2) Alma Gaskill, a Customer Service Rep. for W. Atlee Burpee & Company stated on Facebook; “NONE of the varieties offered by Burpee either from very large or very small seed suppliers are GMO (genetically modified or altered) or modified chemically in any way. All of our seeds are sold untreated, so the gardener can choose to plant untreated, or use chemical or organic treatment or supplements as they see fit. Burpee is committed to providing the best “natural” seed portfolio in the industry to our Home Garden customers, and stand behind what we sell.”(3)

One major reason why Burpee is under scrutiny is because there seems to be a misunderstanding about Burpee’s relationship with Seminis, a Monsanto owned company. A Chicago blogger by the name of Mr. Brown Thumb (Ramon Gonzalez) tackles this issue in a post entitled. “Can You Trust Burpee Seed.” In the interview, Ball explains the misunderstanding to Gonzalez by stating; “Mr. Peto left Burpee because he wanted to concentrate on the more technical aspects of tomato production and Burpee wanted to focus on the home gardener. Peto’s company, PetoSeed started working in hybrid vegetables in the 1950s. PetoSeed was eventually purchased by Seminis, which was itself eventually purchased by Monsanto. Here is where a lot of gardeners, bloggers, writers and activists usually make the erroneous connection between Burpee and Monsanto.” (4) Mr. Howard Peto was a plant breeder, a second generation immigrant from Canada, who bred tomatoes, peppers and melons during his five years with the company; he then quit Burpee Seed Company in the mid-50s to start up his own company PetoSeed.

Another reason why there is concern about Burpee and GMO seed is because Burpee has not signed the Safe Seed Pledge, so the Burpee name continues to be excluded from “the pledge list.” Mr. Brown Thumb, The Chicago blogger, also reports in his article the following in regards to the Safe Seed Pledge; “Mr. Ball says he hadn't heard of it or of the organization behind it. He says he has no interest in dignifying something if he doesn't know who is on the other end of the paper. Now that he had heard of it would he consider singing it? "It sounds creepy-I don't believe in lists," he said. "I don't buy genetically modified seeds; I don't sell genetically modified seeds." He said he buys seeds from Seminis because the genetics are great because they come from the PetoSeeds lines.” (5)

During my own interview and tour at the Burpee facility in Warminister, PA with Kristen Grilli, Public Relations, I asked her how Burpee’s unique tomato colors are bred. Kristin explained “the process is usually referred to as hybridization…..thus the term hybrid. This process of natural plant breeding should not be confused with GMO. Hybridization, I always like to say, is the plant breeding process Gregor Mendel used when he discovered genetics.” When I asked her about Burpee Seed selling GMO seed, Kristen confirmed, and Burpee Seed gives their word, that they do NOT sell GMO seed, never have in the past, and will not sell it in the future.

It’s time to purchase your seeds; the 2011 Burpee Seed Catalog is now available:

For more on Burpee Seed Co.:

Click here for: GMO Seeds, Pt. 1: The truth about GMO’s, Monsanto and Burpee Seed

Click here for more on the history of Burpee Seed

Click here for more on Safe Seed Resource List

Click here for Non-GMO Shopping Guide

References:

(1) http://www.burpee.com/gardening/content/gygg/burpee-gmo-and-monsanto-rumors-put-to-rest/about-burpee-seeds.html

(2) http://www.burpee.com/gardening/content/gygg/burpee-gmo-and-monsanto-rumors-put-to-rest/about-burpee-seeds.html

(3) http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=257338248742

(4) http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-garden/2011/02/can-you-trust-burpee-seeds.html

(5) http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-garden/2011/02/can-you-trust-burpee-seeds.html

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