Seed Keepers

["Lawrence F. London, Jr." <venaurafarm@bellsouth.net>]

On 8/4/2010 2:37 AM, Lawrence F. London, Jr. wrote:
> Mars (manufacturer of junk food candy bars) bought Seeds
> of Change some years ago. A natural food store manager told me they
> offered no seeds to them last year for resale. Last week the goons in
> the employ of Mars (possibly from there as well) appeared at Seeds of
> Change, told _everyone_ (read: _all_ employees) that they were fired on
> the spot and to get their things together and leave the property
> immediately. They confiscated their laptops and cellphones, were not
> allowed to download their personal data, were watched while emptying
> their desks (might take a company ball point pen) then escorted off the
> property. The organization is being dismantled and the property will be
> sold. No more Seeds of Change, supplier of open pollinated seeds. A very
> similar scenario unfolded a few years ago at Seed Savers Exchange after
> an internal coup carried out partly by Monsanto surrogates resulted in
> the loss of nearly a life's work by Kent Whealy.

> marketfarming mailing list
> marketfarming@lists.ibiblio.org
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/marketfarming

> seedkeepers mailing list
> seedkeepers@lists.ibiblio.org
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/seedkeepers

UPDATE:
-------

To my knowledge Seeds of Change is still in business but closed the old
experimental farm where seed breeding and research was done.  This site 
has a lot of sentimental value since it was used after the Gila, NM farm 
was sold.

Keeping the record straight.

Scott Pittman
Director
Permaculture Institute
www.permaculture.org

<><><><><><>

Dear Mr. Roe,

In response to your email regarding Seeds of Change.

The SEEDS OF CHANGE business is undertaking a strategic shift as part of 
our long-term growth strategy.  Part of our strategy includes closing 
our Santa Fe, New Mexico farm and basing our U.S. management team and 
warehouse in Rancho Dominguez, California, where our Mars Food US 
offices are located.  We intend to continue the majority of the seed 
production and operations as they are today, and will further deepen our 
relationship with a number of our existing farming and research sites in 
the United States.
The SEEDS OF CHANGE Brand will continue promoting sustainable organic 
agriculture and delivering great tasting organic products.  We 
appreciate the trust and support that consumers have placed in the SEEDS 
OF CHANGE Brand in our first 20 years and look forward to continuing to 
provide the highest quality seed varieties and great tasting organic 
products that consumers have grown to love.

We appreciate your comments as your confidence in our products and 
continued goodwill are very important to us.  Thank you for contacting us.


Diane Cuvo
Seeds Of Change
Consumer Care Department
1-888-762-4240
011281505A