I've followed Shumways since the '60's when they were in Rockford Illinois where they's been for about 100 years. Sometime in the '70's, I guess it was, they moved to the Sunbelt in South Carolina. I guess they got caught up in that southern migration thing.
Along in there, Shumway apparently bought Vermont Bean Seed. They also started selling thru HPS about that time. And, Seymour Seed Co. popped up. I never was clear who or what Seymour was or is - there was an effort to advertise the company as an English lady's selection of varieties.
It wasn't too long after that the Jung company took over Shumway. Maybe the ambitions of a new generation at Shumway got ahead of them.
I used to think of Jungs as "my" seed company. They just seemed to have a lot of the varieties that were suitable for my northern garden. I did a lot of ordering from them over the years and probably contributed to the opportunity they had to purchase Shumway
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During these last 40 years, I've seen Territorial Seed grow to be a company that's a long way from where they started. Johnny's has done the same thing, in spades. Now, Johnny's is owned by its employees, as best as I understand it. The original Johnny is still around. So is the "original" Richard at Pinetree Seed. They just don't seem to be involved in the day-to-day operations.
I've never quite figured out what happened 10 or 15 years ago at Cook's Garden and I'm sure I don't want to know what happened at Seed Savers Exchange and Kent Whealy. Times change, people change . . . and the retail outfits are involved in commercial plant breeding only on the margins.
I rejoice to see the vast number of heirlooms now available. Some are appreciated in my own garden. But, I have to say - there were a number of reasons that some of the varieties fell out of favor, 50 and 100 years ago. Not all of those reasons were corporate decisions.
Steve
. . . just my 2.
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I received Jung Seed & Plants catalog yesterday, anyone else receive it yet?
