Seed company sells out, hundreds out of work

[The Watcher]

Seed company sells out, hundreds out of work

Reporter - Jason Hibbs

Story Created: May 18, 2012 at 8:22 PM CDT

Story Updated: May 18, 2012 at 10:48 PM CDT

FULTON, Ky. — Terminated: a large employer lets almost everyone go and the community can't believe how they did it. Employees returned to the job after lunch only to learn they no longer have a job.
It happened just after noon Friday at the 53-year-old Ferry Morse Seed Factory in Fulton, Kentucky.

A company spokesperson had no comment but people in the community had plenty to say about the way the company let workers go.
Jiffy Products owned and operated the factory. But now, Massachusetts-based Plantation Products owns the home and garden division of Jiffy, and in turn, owns Ferry Morse.

While they won't tell us their plans for the Fulton factory, they made it clear they don't want nearly all the workers who depend on the garden-growing company to feed their families.

The company that started sending seeds in the mail seven generations ago hand-delivered a letter to nearly 200 factory workers just after lunch. It stated their position was terminated, effective immediately.
"I can't believe that, because things were going so great," said Fulton resident Judy Green. "People had been there a long time."

Economic Development Director Eddy Crittendon said he was caught off guard like everyone else and is surprised the company gave no notice.
"There's folks who've been employed out there for thirty to forty years, have given their whole life to the company," he said.

More:
http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/home/ticke...152115545.html

[Fawlty]

Unfortunate that people lost their jobs but times change and companies are bought and sold....opened and closed. Nothing in life is certain except for of course...death and taxes.

[Blacknarwhal]

Unfortunate that people lost their jobs but times change and companies are bought and sold....opened and closed. Nothing in life is certain except for of course...death and taxes.

Exactly! And the half a dozen guys who owned the place made a fortune!

Hooray for those half a dozen guys, huh?

Bet those other schmucks could have done better if they hadn't been so lazy, huh? Why can't they just work harder and get ahead like REAL people, huh?

You know, we all like capitalism, but if it keeps on going like this the capitalists are going to get strung up by all the newly-minted communists who lost their jobs when the capitalists sold out....

Because you know, there's a whole lot more sold outs than there are sell outs. And when their tummies start to rumblin', Ayn Rand will prove no comfort. Nor will little things like the "rule of law". And they won't just starve quietly, cursing their own ineptitude and lack of ambition. Because funny thing...there will be plenty of former business owners in there who didn't get the chance to sell out.

Best stock up on ammo lest someone get to thinking you're a "have" because you live indoors and eat.

[bbkaren]

I get your sympathy, BN, but what's the alternative? Sacrifice best business practices to accommodate "fairness"?

It's a rough world out there; if they run the company in a way that's not best for the SURVIVAL of the COMPANY, then far more will lose their jobs.

I just can't understand how folks don't see that...especially on a liberty-loving board such as this.

[4Him]

I get your sympathy, BN, but what's the alternative? Sacrifice best business practices to accommodate "fairness"?

It's a rough world out there; if they run the company in a way that's not best for the SURVIVAL of the COMPANY, then far more will lose their jobs.

I just can't understand how folks don't see that...especially on a liberty-loving board such as this.

BBK, I'm not so sure it has anything to do with running a company properly. There are lots of times, especially in a buy-out or remote ownership situation it has to do with write-off of debt or balancing out losses in the parent company. In other words it is strictly a bookkeeping necessity and has nothing to do with how the Ferry Morse portion of the company is doing. In fact, they may have been doing well enough to have caused their demise. There may well have been profits or losses elswhere in the parent that make Ferry Morse a weak link but not necessarily unprofitable.

[Wiskey Reb]

The bottom line is that the seed supply is rapidly diminishing. For a seed company to go belly up in days like this is unlikely. There's more to this story than an acquisition. I'd like to know names and associations.

I'm saving seed....are you?

[CRT]

some companies will purchase software programs that tell the user when to restructure" a company based on insurance costs and age of the workforce and payscale. then they will set up shop in another area that offers lower taxes and lower operating costs and hire a new young workforce.

[reggierthanthou]

The bottom line is that the seed supply is rapidly diminishing. For a seed company to go belly up in days like this is unlikely.

My thoughts as well.

[Homeward]

Looks like Plantation has a poor reputation

http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/c/1720/

http://www.plantationproducts.com/about.htm

[Homeward]

some companies will purchase software programs that tell the user when to restructure" a company based on insurance costs and age of the workforce and payscale. then they will set up shop in another area that offers lower taxes and lower operating costs and hire a new young workforce.

Or buy companies for their good name only, then fire everyone and paste that brand name on inferior junk produced elsewhere.

Doesn't sound like they even gave those people a chance to try to adapt.