Johnny’s Selected Seeds, a privately-held Maine seed company since 1973, will soon be employee-owned. The announcement was presented by founder and owner Rob Johnston at an all-employee luncheon today. The plan will be implemented over the next 10 years, with employees gaining majority shares by July of 2009. 

What was once a more local and regional supplier of vegetable, flower and herb seeds has grown over the last three decades into a multi-channel, international seed merchant, providing commercial grower and home garden customers from across the country and worldwide with quality seeds, as well as tools and supplies. The company has earned a reputation for quality product, service and technical advice.

“We're about to embark on a new adventure, turning Johnny's into an employee-owned seed company,” said Johnston. “While every privately owned company eventually changes hands, this is selling out with a twist:  the employees are buying it. This settles the ownership question moving ahead, and that benefits the whole Johnny's community -- customers, employees, suppliers, and research cooperators. This place has a life beyond me and that life begins now.”

“The sale of Johnny’s through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a tremendously exciting opportunity for all of its soon-to-be employee-owners,” says General Manager Mike Comer. “It will reward our employees for their continued focus on building long-term relationships with our customers and for their creative solution-finding aimed at advancing operations to the benefit of our customers.”

Johnny's Selected Seeds provides quality vegetable, herb, and flower seeds as well as tools and supplies, to home garden and commercial growers. An independent company since 1973, Johnny’s prides itself on its superior product, research, technical information, and customer service.  All of Johnny’s seeds and accessories are thoroughly tested at the company’s certified organic farm in Albion, Maine and are backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.