Name

IFSI

Legal name

Illinois Foundation Seeds, Inc.

Website

https://ifsi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vegetable Seed Genetics & Plant Breeding

NAICS

Other Crop Farming (1119)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Seed Production & Multiplication (Contract Growing, Foundation/Certified Seed) (AFABAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Plant Breeding & Variety Development (Conventional) (AFAGAIAF), Seed Trait Licensing & IP Management (Licensing, freedom-to-operate) (AFABALAJ), Biotechnology & Gene-Edited Trait Development (AFAGAIAG)

Keywords

• Seed genetics development
• Sweet corn breeding
• Vegetable seed production
• Hybrid seed licensing
• Plant breeding research

Headquarters

HQ city

Tolono

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Seed Genetics Licensing: IFSI licenses its hybrid seed genetics to seed dealers and producers, generating revenue through royalty arrangements on seed sales.
2. Foundation Seed Sales: Sale of foundation seed and hybrid varieties directly to seed dealers and producers.
3. Sweet Corn Processing Genetics: Following Del Monte acquisition, IFSI provides processing sweet corn genetics to food processing companies for canning and freezing operations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

IFSI breeds, develops, licenses, and produces hybrid seed genetics — primarily supersweet (sh2) sweet corn varieties — together with beets, carrots, beans, peas, and garden varietals. Revenue is generated through licensing of proprietary seed genetics and sale of foundation seed to an authorized dealer network that serves fresh-market growers and processing customers worldwide. The Del Monte sweet corn genetics acquisition expanded IFSI's portfolio into processing-grade genetics for canning and freezing.

Product overview

IFSI (Illinois Foundation Seeds, Inc.) is a seed genetics company founded in 1937, offering a comprehensive portfolio of vegetable seeds and field crop genetics. The company's product lineup centers on sweet corn as its flagship category, featuring multiple sub-brands: IFSI Reserve (premium quality), Xtra-Tender, Xtra-Sweet, XR (Common Rust resistant), and MXR varieties. Beyond sweet corn, IFSI offers beets, carrots, beans, peas, and garden varietals. The company recently acquired Del Monte Foods' sweet corn genetics portfolio to expand into the vegetable processing industry. IFSI serves seed dealers and growers worldwide, focusing on breeding innovation for both fresh market and processing applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IFSI Reserve: Premium sweet corn quality brand featuring the most tender and delicious varieties in the industry.
• Xtra-Tender
• Xtra-Sweet

Products and services

• XTH1572 Xtra-Tender Sweet Corn 72-day yellow sweet corn with Xtra-Tender eating quality, dark green husk package, and excellent flag leaves, suited for shipping and roadside markets.
• TRACKER VX Xtra-Tender Sweet Corn 78-day full season yellow sweet corn with great eating quality, easy snap, short shank, and excellent husk protection for roadside markets.
• VISION MXR IFSI Reserve Sweet Corn 73-day yellow hybrid with virus and Common Rust resistance (RpGDJ) bringing highest level of eating quality, suited for roadside markets.
• ICON XR IFSI Reserve Sweet Corn 72-day yellow sweet corn with exceptional eating quality, improved husk protection, ear length, and tip fill under stress for high-quality fresh markets and roadside stands.
• XTH1473 IFSI Reserve Sweet Corn Yellow sweet corn hybrid with excellent eating quality and strong plant characteristics.
• 1273 IFSI Reserve Sweet Corn 72-day yellow hybrid with incredible eating quality, great ear size, and yield potential suitable for midseason roadside and high-quality shipping markets.
• 274A Xtra-Tender Sweet Corn (Bicolor) 71-day bicolor sweet corn with attractive husk package, market-leading seedling vigor, sweet flavor, and ear size for roadside stand markets.
• 4974 VX Xtra-Tender Sweet Corn 73-day yellow sweet corn with consistent ear size and plant performance across variable environments, with strong husk protection for mid-season fresh market.
• XTH11274 Xtra-Tender Sweet Corn 72-day yellow sweet corn with attractive husk package, seedling vigor, sweet flavor, and ear size for roadside stand markets.
• XTH1673 Xtra-Tender Sweet Corn 73-day yellow sweet corn with excellent flavor, ear shape, and kernel appearance, performing well across diverse environments for roadside stands and fresh market.
• XTH3274 Xtra-Tender Sweet Corn (White) 73-day white sweet corn with excellent flavor, ear shape, and kernel appearance for roadside stands and shipping markets.
• TROUBADOUR XR IFSI Reserve Sweet Corn (Bicolor) 76-day bicolor sweet corn with excellent husk protection and exceptional eating quality for mid-season roadside stands and fresh markets.
• AMERICAN DREAM IFSI Reserve Sweet Corn (Bicolor) 77-day bicolor sweet corn with IFSI Reserve eating quality in a later-maturing hybrid featuring a trim ear with extraordinary tip fill wrapped in attractive husk; 2018 All-America Selections Winner.
• STAMINA MXR Xtra-Tender Sweet Corn (Bicolor) 78-day late season bicolor fresh-market sweet corn with exceptional eating quality, strong tip fill, ideal ear size, and excellent disease package for roadside markets.
• EXPEDITION XR Xtra-Tender Sweet Corn (Bicolor) 77-day bicolor sweet corn with attractive ear style and good holding ability, adaptable to various growing environments with strong standability for northern shipping and roadside markets.
• XTH3674 Xtra-Tender Sweet Corn (White) 74-day white sweet corn versatile hybrid with good seedling vigor, great husk package, and strong yields for both local and shipping markets.
• REDEMPTION XR Xtra-Sweet Sweet Corn (Bicolor) 80-day bicolor Xtra-Sweet (sh2) supersweet corn with outstanding husk coverage and robust plant, widely adaptable for full-season shipping markets.
• LIBERTY Xtra-Tender Sweet Corn (Bicolor) 78-day full-season bicolor shipping sweet corn with easy snap, great tip fill, robust plant habit, strong husk protection, and ideal ear size for shipping markets.
• CONQUEST XR Xtra-Sweet Sweet Corn (Bicolor) 78-day bicolor Xtra-Sweet (sh2) supersweet corn with robust plant, beautiful kernel color with contrast and gloss, ideal ear size and cob diameter for shipping and tray pack.
• AGAVE MXR Xtra-Tender Sweet Corn (Bicolor) 74-day bicolor sweet corn workhorse with excellent cold soil vigor, improved lodging resistance, and field holding ability for roadside or fresh shipping markets.
• ANTHEM XR Xtra-Tender Sweet Corn (Bicolor) 73-day bicolor sweet corn with excellent seedling vigor, eating quality, and husk appearance for any fresh market.
• HERO XR Xtra-Tender Sweet Corn (Bicolor) 71-day bicolor first-early sweet corn with strong seedling vigor, improved husk protection, and ear shape for early-season markets.
• TEMPO XR Xtra-Tender Sweet Corn (Bicolor) 76-day bicolor sweet corn with excellent husk protection, consistent tip fill across varying conditions, and Common Rust resistance (RpG) for mid-season roadside and fresh markets.
• SIGNATURE XR IFSI Reserve Sweet Corn (Bicolor) 72-day bicolor sweet corn with IFSI Reserve eating quality, attractive husk, holding ability, strong husk cover, and great ear size for quality-driven fresh markets.
• SUPERB MXR Xtra-Tender Sweet Corn (Bicolor) 74-day bicolor sweet corn with strong yield, large ear size, improved husk protection, and ability to handle difficult growing seasons for mid-season fresh and shipping markets.
• KICKOFF XR Xtra-Tender Sweet Corn (Bicolor) 69-day bicolor first-early sweet corn with excellent ear size and eating quality, three days earlier than Anthem XR, with strong seedling vigor.
• BOLT XR Xtra-Tender Sweet Corn (Bicolor) 67-day bicolor first-early fresh-market sweet corn with first-in-class eating quality, excellent husk coverage, tip fill, dark green husk package, and sound ear size for roadside stands.
• SEMINOLE GOLD Xtra-Tender Sweet Corn 80-day yellow sweet corn with Xtra-Tender eating quality, attractive husk package, excellent tip fill, strong plant, and ideal ear size for shipping markets.
• GALLANT MXR Xtra-Sweet Sweet Corn 82-day yellow Xtra-Sweet (sh2) supersweet corn with strong plant that handles stress of fall and winter plantings, Common Rust resistance, excellent husk package, determinate tip fill, and improved barrel size for shipping markets.
• BULLET XR Xtra-Tender Sweet Corn 76-day yellow sweet corn with dark green attractive husk package, great eating quality, and compact shank for mid-season markets.
• TAKEOFF MXR Xtra-Tender Sweet Corn 69-day yellow sweet corn with impeccable eating quality, excellent husk package, and impressive ear shape and size for an early-maturity fresh-market variety.
• SPRINTER XR Xtra-Tender Sweet Corn 67-day yellow supersweet sweet corn, one of the earliest on the market with Xtra-Tender eating quality, great husk protection, strong tip fill, and compact shank for early fresh and shipping markets.
• 3879 XR Sweet Corn (Processing) 81-day white sweet corn with strong disease package and excellent lodging tolerance, superb yields, and good recovery for the full-season processing market.
• 378A Xtra-Tender Sweet Corn (White) 78-day full-season white sweet corn with very strong plant, great eating quality, and excellent yield for roadside and shipping markets.
• Mountaineer Half Runner Bean Half runner bean with oval/round light green 4–5 inch pods, rich flavor, sturdy pod with plump pale white beans; originated in Germany and carried over to the Dutch Fork region of South Carolina.
• Idelight Snap Bean Strong round 12–18 inch bright green stringless snap bean with curly top, known for mosaic-virus resistance.
• State 1/2 Runner Bean Vigorous half-runner bean bush with flat/oval 4-inch pods slightly curved in silver and green colors.
• Early Alaska Pea 52–58 day extremely early smooth-seeded pea with 2.5 inch pods containing 5–8 seeds, 28 inch light green slender plants, very cold hardy, finishes bearing before hot weather.
• Oregon Giant Pea 60–70 day pea with 30–36 inch bush producing high yields of extra-large 4.5 inch x 1 inch medium green flat pods; starts production early and continues over a long period.
• Little Marvel Pea 58–64 day space-saving bushy 15–20 inch heirloom vines heavily set with 3–4 inch pods frequently borne in pairs, filled with 6–7 medium dark green tender peas.
• Detroit Dark Red Beet High-quality beet variety usable for both processing and fresh markets with smooth skin and excellent canning characteristics.
• Viper Carrot Carrot bred for higher density plant populations maintaining 12–14 inch average length to maximize yield for two-inch pieces, with bright orange color, small indistinctive core, and incredible top strength for easy harvesting.
• IFSI Reserve Sweet Corn Sub-Brand Premium sweet corn variety brand showcasing the most tender and delicious varieties in the industry, representing the highest eating quality tier across IFSI's sweet corn lineup.
• Xtra-Tender Sweet Corn Sub-Brand Sweet corn classification denoting superior tenderness and eating quality across the Xtra-Tender hybrid lineup, including roadside-stand and shipping hybrids.
• Xtra-Sweet (sh2) Sweet Corn Sub-Brand Supersweet (sh2) sweet corn classification offering four to ten times more sugar than traditional sugary varieties, extended shelf life, and improved germination versus original sh2 releases.
• Del Monte Processing Sweet Corn Genetics Processing sweet corn germplasm portfolio acquired from Del Monte Foods, providing high-kernel-recovery, processing-line-suitable hybrids optimized for canning and freezing operations and tailored for global market demands.
• Sweet Corn Genetics Licensing Program Licensing program through which IFSI extends its proprietary hybrid sweet corn genetics to seed dealers and producers under royalty arrangements on resulting seed sales.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Del Monte FoodscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2024IFSI acquired sweet corn genetics portfolio from Del Monte Foods to strengthen its position in the global processing industry. The acquisition includes germplasm focused on processing uses, expanding IFSI's genetic base. IFSI aims to enhance processing efficiency, improve plant habit, and develop varieties tailored to meet evolving global market demands.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• HM.CLAUSE: Major international vegetable seed breeder (Limagrain group) with deep sweet corn, carrot, and bean programs. Comparable to IFSI across multiple of IFSI's vegetable categories, though with global scale and trait-stacking capabilities.
• Seminis (Bayer): Bayer's vegetable seed division and the global leader in sweet corn, tomato, pepper, and other vegetable genetics. Overlaps with IFSI on sh2 sweet corn offerings and processing-channel supply, but operates at vastly greater scale with global breeding stations.
• Syngenta Vegetable Seeds: Multinational seed company with a robust sweet corn and processing vegetable seed portfolio. Competes with IFSI for processing-customer contracts and offers integrated crop protection packages that independent breeders cannot match.
• Sakata Seed America: Subsidiary of Japan's Sakata Seed Corporation with significant sweet corn, carrot, and bean breeding programs. Comparable to IFSI in vegetable seed breadth and dealer-channel distribution.

Direct peers

• Johnny's Selected Seeds: Employee-owned US seed company specializing in vegetables, herbs, and flowers with strong sweet corn and bean offerings. Comparable in independent, mission-driven positioning and direct-to-grower/dealer distribution.
• Abbott & Cobb: Independent US vegetable seed company specializing in sweet corn, watermelons, and other produce crops. Directly comparable in product portfolio, dealer-distribution model, and breeder-driven innovation.
• Stokes Seeds: North American vegetable and flower seed distributor offering multiple sweet corn brands including IFSI genetics. Operates as both a customer (dealer) and a competing seed source, making it a hybrid comparable in the channel.
• Harris Seeds: Established US vegetable and flower seed company distributing multiple sweet corn brands including IFSI varieties. Comparable in dealer/direct-grower hybrid model and breadth of vegetable categories.
• Crookham Company: Long-standing US sweet corn and onion seed breeder with comparable independent, family-owned structure and dealer-distribution model. Directly competes in sh2 supersweet sweet corn varieties and shares IFSI's fresh-market and processing focus.
• Rispens Seeds: Independent US vegetable seed distributor/breeder of sweet corn, beans, and other produce seeds. Listed as an IFSI authorized dealer and competes in overlapping genetics categories through its own breeding work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/illinois-foundation-seed-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IFSI