In the rural area of York, Prince Edward Island (P.E. I.), Canada, young Arthur Vesey tended his market garden in 1939.
Seeds Tested in Vesey Market Garden
Vesey was especially interested in finding the best seeds for short growing seasons. Through persistent testing, he learned which seeds were best suited to the Atlantic Canada climate.
In time, he was placing seed orders for himself and his neighbours. Using rudimentary utensils in a room of his home, Vesey measured and packaged seed orders. As he said in an interview, “It all began on a shoestring.” The small seed order business expanded and quickly outgrew the original location.
In 1948, Arthur Vesey saw completion of a new building to accommodate a store and area where mail orders were filled. Staff living quarters were also completed on the site. Through the years, with popularity of their product lines and services, the company has been compelled to construct additional buildings.
Company Research and Business Expansion
Arthur Vesey continued his market gardening in order to test new seed varieties and compare their production with existing strains. The company continues with the practice set by the founder.
Veseys maintains a 40-acre research farm with a flower trials building where every variety in the catalogue is studied by staff. Hardiness, vigour, disease resistance, germination period, and product flavour information are carefully recorded and evaluated.
Tasks previously done by hand are now accomplished by automation. Utensils similar to Arthur Vesey’s originals are used in hand sorting and packaging of small, delicate flower seeds.
Mail Order Business Partnership and New Company Management
In 1956, 18-year-old B. E. (Bev) Simpson became an employee at Vesey's Seeds. He planned to work there for a year then return to his parents’ farm. He worked in the market garden, seed packaging, shipping, and customer service. To learn accounting and typing for his office assistant work, he attended college part time.
Within ten years, Simpson was a partner in the business. When Arthur Vesey retired in 1980, Simpson and his wife Shirley, also an employee, purchased the company. They sold the company’s vegetable production section soon after.
Vesey's serves both home and commercial growers in Canada and the United States. Their vegetable seeds are available in several-sized packets and bulk parcels. In recognition of organic agriculture’s value, Vesey's has a list of certified organic products to offer its customers.
Business Website and Online Catalogue of Veseys
Traditionally, gardeners anxiously awaited copies of the season’s seed catalogues that arrived mid-winter. While going through them and dreaming of their gardens, they ignored the weather. Spring was ‘just around the corner.’
The wait is not necessary now that Vesey's has established a website. It features electronic catalogues, an interactive gardening forum, press releases, gardening tips, and many more services.
The Equipment Department began in Arthur Vesey’s garage with the sale of a lawn tractor. From those humble beginnings, it has greatly expanded under Gerry Simpson’s direction.
Another interesting aspect is the company’s assistance in fundraising campaigns with sales of their bulbs and seeds.
The award-winning Canadian company that sprouted in Arthur Vesey’s market garden has flourished as the seeds he selected so many years ago. As Bev Simpson commented, “a quality product never goes out of style.”
Source:
Kathleen Airdrie - Kathleen has thirty years' freelance writing experience covering history, biographical profiles, environmental and social issues
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