[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 51 (Wednesday, April 2, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S2341]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S2341]]
                  RECOGNIZING JOHNNY'S SELECTED SEEDS

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today I recognize an extraordinary 
business from my home State of Maine, Johnny's Selected Seeds. A mail-
order seed producer and seller from Kennebec County, Johnny's Selected 
Seeds recently garnered the U.S. Small Business Administration's 
Entrepreneurial Success Award. But what is most gratifying about the 
recognition for Johnny's is that the company won the award on the 
district, regional, and national levels.
  Chairman Rob Johnston, Jr. founded Johnny's Selected Seeds in 1973 at 
the age of 22. With only $500 in his savings account, but with a deep 
appreciation for and knowledge of agriculture, Mr. Johnston began his 
venture in the attic of a farmhouse before finally settling in Albion, 
ME, in 1975. As Johnny's grew, so did demand for its product, largely 
due to the firm's easy-to-use and straightforward catalog with detailed 
descriptions of available seeds and handy growing information, as well 
as the company's production of various vintage heirloom seeds. Johnny's 
moved its headquarters to Winslow, ME in 2002 and later opened a 
catalog store in the same town. The employee-owned company continues to 
maintain its property in Albion as a working farm and research facility 
while offering seed enthusiasts and curious visitors self-guided farm 
tours throughout the summer months.
  Johnny's employees take seriously their pledge to provide their 
customers with tools, seeds, plants, and supplies of the utmost 
quality. The company's minimum germination standards are well above 
those required by law, and Johnny's goes to great lengths to ensure 
that commercial varieties are free of certain viruses and diseases. 
Johnny's also offers various organic seeds, and since 1999, has adhered 
to the principles of the Safe Seed Pledge, signaling that the company 
does not ``. . . knowingly buy or sell genetically engineered seeds or 
plants.'' Additionally, in an effort to stay on the cutting edge, 
Johnny's takes great pride in the research it does to maintain its 
innovative reputation. In particular, the firm focuses on developing 
new seed varieties, as well as leading the way in quality control.
  Johnny's Selected Seeds has truly made a name for itself through its 
outstanding achievements and reliable service. But the company has also 
maintained a loyal customer base because of the basics. Johnny's vends 
a wide array of seeds, tools, and supplies to both home gardeners and 
small commercial growers. Offering a vast selection of vegetable seeds, 
from artichokes to watermelons, Johnny's also sells fruit seeds, herb 
seeds, and an impressive collection of flower seeds. Continually 
updating its stock, Johnny's adds new seeds to its list each year, and 
2008 is no exception. Some of the dozens of new products available 
range from colorful spring flowers to different corns, cantaloupes, and 
greens. And for convenience, home growers can order a small packet of 
25 seeds, and larger growers can often request up to 10,000 or 25,000 
seeds, depending on the product.
  A truly entrepreneurial business, Johnny's Selected Seeds constantly 
seeks new ways to grow, improve, and impress. It has, without a doubt, 
earned its latest accolades handily. To succeed as superlatively as 
Johnny's does speaks volumes about the resolve and passion of Mr. 
Johnston, but it is also a testament to the hard work and dedication of 
the company's over 80 full-time and 50 seasonal employees. I 
congratulate Johnny's Selected Seeds for earning the U.S. Small 
Business Administration's Entrepreneurial Success Award at all levels 
and for the example it sets for small businesses everywhere.

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