Seed Giant Burpee Wants Americans To Garden Like Its 1776
Key takeaways
- George Ball’s 150-year-old seed company invented iceberg lettuce, the Big Boy tomato and other groundbreaking vegetables along the way to growing a $110 million business.
- These seeds are thanks to George Ball, the 74-year-old chairman and owner of Burpee since 1991, who says “one of the most patriotic things you can do is plant a garden.”
- “We provide for people who want to have the catalog,” Ball tells Forbes. “We go to Mrs.
Food & Drink Daily Cover Seed Giant Burpee Wants Americans To Garden Like Its 1776Petal Pusher: “We're trying to help the plants thrive," Burpee owner George Ball says, "but we're also trying to help the gardeners thrive.”aaron kotowski for forbes By Chloe Sorvino,
George Ball’s 150-year-old seed company invented iceberg lettuce, the Big Boy tomato and other groundbreaking vegetables along the way to growing a $110 million business. Meet the man with the gold thumb.To celebrate the country’s 250th birthday, the 150-year-old seed giant Burpee has been selling seed collections inspired by the gardens of Thomas Jefferson and Martha Washington, giving modern Americans the chance to grow hot peppers, cucumbers and watermelons based on seed varieties that date back to the American Revolution.
These seeds are thanks to George Ball, the 74-year-old chairman and owner of Burpee since 1991, who says “one of the most patriotic things you can do is plant a garden.”