Garst Seed Company

In 1931, Garst and Thomas Hi-Bred Corn Company was founded by Roswell Garst and Charley Thomas in Coon Rapids, Iowa, and was "instrumental in promoting the use of hybrid corn."^[1] During the Cold War, Garst formed a relationship with Nikita Khrushchev and assisted the USSR in modernizing its corn production.^[1]

In 1983, the company split up and Garst Seed Company was formed.^[1]

In 1985 Garst was acquired by Imperial Chemical Industries's American subsidiary.^[1]

In 1993, ICI sold off its North American assets, and Garst seed business became part of a new company called Zeneca.^[1]

In 1996, Garst became part of Advanta Group, formed through the merger of Zeneca Seeds and VanderHave.^[1] Zeneca became part of AstraZeneca and VanderHave was controlled by a Dutch farmer-owned co-operative called Cosun U.A.^[2]

In 2004, Astrazeneca and Cosun sold Garst to Syngenta.^[1][3]

In 2013, Syngenta announced the retirement of the Garst seed brand. Operations ceased in 2014 and remaining Garst hybrid corn seed products were rebranded to Golden Harvest.^[4]