by Danny Monahan A seed is much like Vermont. It is small but it is powerful. Whether he is speaking of his business or his seeds, Tom Stearns does so passionately. That passion is one of the many reasons why the Vermont Small Business Person of the Year, is awarded to Stearns, High Mowing Organic Seeds founder and owner. He is being recognized for growing his company, increasing sales, employee growth and contributing to the local community. A celebration of Stearns and all the 2016 SBA winners will take place Thursday, June 16, from 4-7 pm at Country Club of Vermont in Waterbury Center.
Each year since 1963, the Small Business Administration’s Vermont District Office has awarded the Small Business Person of the Year. High Mowing Organic Seeds joins the ranks of other previous state winners including as Switchback Brewing Co, Vermont Teddy Bear, Dealer.com and Ben & Jerry’s.
Along with High Mowing Organic Seeds, six other businesses were selected as SBA winners this year: Mansfield Heliflight as the Exporter of the Year; Greenfield Highland Beef as the Family-Owned Small Business of the Year; Sweet Crunch Bakeshop as the Woman-Owned Business of the Year; Power Play Sports as the Young Entrepreneur of the Year; Snug Life as the Micro-Enterprise of the Year; and Desai Management Consulting as the Minority-Owned Business of the Year.
“Tom embodies the characteristics we look for in a Small Business Person of the Year,” said Darcy Carter, SBA Vermont District Office director. “His drive and passion are building a modern Vermont company that is profitable and socially and environmentally responsible.”
Tom Stearns displays his SBA plaque with Senator Patrick Leahy at a ceremony in Washington, DC, in May.
High Mowing Organic Seeds is a farm-based company that produces and distributes vegetable, flower and herb seeds. It is the first organic company guaranteeing all of its seeds are verified as non-genetically modified.
“We supply Certified Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified seeds to organic farmers and gardeners. We have become the largest nationwide seed company that focuses 100 percent on organic seeds for farmers. There are less than 10 other seed companies that substantially serve this market and no others have their seeds third-party verified as Non-GMO.”
Throughout its 20 years, High Mowing Organic Seeds has grown substantially. Before launching his company in 1996, cultivating seeds was just a hobby of Stearns.
Today it is a global company with more than 60 employees expanding benefits and increasing wages to focus on improving quality of life in the company and out of it. Stearns has partnerships with farms and organizations all over the planet. Seeds are sourced from partners throughout Europe, North America and South America.
The company produces seeds that thrive because they are selected for organic growing conditions. There is four to eight years of breeding and often three more years of research trials before a seed is sold and distributed. Seeds are trialed in Vermont and elsewhere in the U.S. to ensure a variety will thrive in the region it is selected for.
“A tomato variety selected for Florida is not the same tomato variety that will thrive in Vermont,” said Stearns. “It’s about what diseases are prevalent in different parts of the country, and how we select varieties to combat the bugs and diseases in that specific area.”
Stearns is looking to grow his company further. He recently purchased 255 acres nearby to expand operations.
“It’s going to be a very long process. This is going to take years. We are building a home for the next century. The buildings and our use of the farmland in going to be a very flexible design because a lot of things are going to change over the next 100 years,” said Stearns.
Stearns projects it will take five to 10 years to complete. Currently the company’s facilities are near capacity, but Stearns feels constraints make him stay driven.
That same drive has led him to devote much of his free time to help his community. The company and Stearns have held workshops to educate the public about community supported agriculture, genetic engineering, plant breeding, local food systems, sustainable business and more. He has served on the board of several agricultural organizations including NOFA-VT, The Center for an Agricultural Economy and Sterling College. Stearns and his company donate seeds to more than 1,000 schools, community gardens, nonprofit organizations and international aid organizations every year.
"High Mowing Organic Seeds was born out of the belief that we can garden and farm in a way that brings health to our families, communities and planet. We have a long way to go but the entire world is awakening to the hopeful future that is waiting for us when we learn how to live in balance with our home.”
