US (ME): A look inside a major breeding greenhouse

Walking around Johnny's Selected Seeds' research farm, one expects to see rows and acres of commercial seed-producing plants. But most of the seeds sold by Johnny's are produced in the parts of the world where they grow best, and then are harvested by Johnny's.

At the research farm, company founder and Chairman Rob Johnston Jr. continually probes and tests to produce seeds that could potentially grow into plumper tomatoes or tastier lettuce. During the 2015 growing season the farm grew nearly 140,000 seedlings on its 29 miles of formed beds.

For testing, new breeds grow alongside existing ones to compare the look, taste and other features, says Johnston, who founded the company in 1973. He now spends most of his time working to create better seeds, but also relaxes part of the year with his wife at their residence in France.

"Plant breeding and genetics is an introverted vocation," says Johnston, adding that it suits him to be in a nursery with earth under his feet.

"Most of our seeds [for sale] aren't grown here," adds David Mehlhorn, vice president of sales and marketing at the company's Fairfield headquarters. Johnny's also has a customer fulfillment center and retail store in Winslow and the research farm in Albion. "They're grown all over the world in the best areas environmentally to grow them, the most productive places."

Yet, in Maine, Johnny's is a beehive of activity. The company packs 1.5 million units of seeds annually, primarily by hand. It sells about 1,827 products, including seeds, tools, fertilizers, insecticides and fungicides. It also sells about 433 organic varieties.

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