crookham.com
Crookham Company is a family-owned seed company founded in 1911 that breeds and supplies hybrid sweet corn, popcorn, and onion seeds to growers, processors, and distributors globally from its base in Caldwell, Idaho, operating the world's largest sweet corn seed bank.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1911
- HeadquartersCaldwell, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What crookham.com does
Crookham Company is a privately held, family-owned seed breeding and production company founded in 1911 by George L. Crookham and headquartered in Caldwell, Idaho, within the Treasure Valley region that supplies approximately 65% of the world's hybrid sweet corn seed. The company develops and supplies hybrid sweet corn, popcorn, and onion seed varieties to commercial growers, fresh-market distributors, and industrial processors (canning, freezing, cut-kernel, cob). Its portfolio is organized into several lines: the Nirvana Series (including sh2i-enhanced varieties Nirvana, Eden RMN, Solstice, Equinox, Golden Halo, and the augmented bicolor Elysian); the QuadSweets line (Temptress, Nectar, Diamond Mine, Gold Standard) combining supersweet and sugary-enhanced genetics; a deep SH2 processor line (Baja, Braveheart, Galaxy/Galaxy Improved, Grenadier, Impress, Landcruiser, Leadership, Ontario/Ontario Improved, Palisade, Raygun, Samson, Snogum, Strongheart, Townsend, Triple Threat, ZHY5233OD); onion varieties across long-day, intermediate-day, and short-day categories (including Mesilla, Redrock, Defender); popcorn hybrids (R265, R502, R98114W); and ornamental/novelty corn (Carousel, Fiesta). Crookham claims the world's largest sweet corn seed bank and was the first company globally to produce hybrid sweet corn on a commercial scale.
The company's underlying technology rests on proprietary germplasm developed through more than a century of breeding, the licensed-in sh2i gene technology from Syngenta Crop Protection AG (which yields measurable germination improvements — e.g., Warm Test 94% vs 89%, Cold Test 94% vs 88% versus standard sh2 — and approximately 28% heavier seed weight enabling better flowability and plantability), and multi-genotype hybrid development spanning SU1, SE, Synergistic, SH2, Augmented Shrunken, and QuadSweets categories. Crookham operates a wholesale B2B model with two primary revenue streams: seed sales through regional distributors (Harris Seeds, Gowan Seeds, Noresco, Seedway, Rupps, Rispens) and direct custom production contracts with processors and growers, supplemented by inbound technology licensing relationships. Geographic reach spans the U.S., a dedicated European product line, and seed shipped to every continent except Antarctica; go-to-market combines field sales with regional trial programs (New Mexico, Texas, California, Wisconsin, Pacific Northwest) and content marketing through product literature and a multilingual (English, Spanish, French) website. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, consistent with the wholesale contract posture. The company has 11-50 employees and remains under founding-family ownership with no documented external investment, M&A, or recapitalization events.
crookham.com firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- crookham.com
- Legal name
- Crookham Company
- Website
- https://crookham.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1911
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Crookham Company is a family-owned seed company founded in 1911 that breeds and supplies hybrid sweet corn, popcorn, and onion seeds to growers, processors, and distributors globally from its base in Caldwell, Idaho, operating the world's largest sweet corn seed bank.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
crookham.com industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural Seeds
- NAICS
- Sugarcane Farming (111930)
- SIC
- Agricultural Production-Crops (100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Plant Breeding & Variety Development (Conventional) (AFAGAIAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Hybrid Seed Production (AFAGAIAD)
Keywords
Where crookham.com is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Caldwell
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
crookham.com business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Seed Sales (Wholesale): Crookham Company operates as a wholesale seed company selling hybrid seed varieties to distributors, custom production customers, and growers. The company produces sweet corn seed, popcorn seed, and onion seed through its seed production operations in the Treasure Valley, Idaho region.
- Licensed Technology (sh2i): The company licenses protected technology including the sh2i gene. Product labels note: 'This product comprises protected technology from Crookham Company and one or more patents owned and controlled by Syngenta Crop Protection AG.'
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
crookham.com product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Crookham Company develops, breeds, and produces hybrid sweet corn, popcorn, and onion seed varieties at its Treasure Valley, Idaho operations. The company sells these seeds wholesale to regional distributors, custom production customers, and commercial growers in the U.S., Europe, and international markets. Its portfolio includes proprietary product lines such as the Nirvana Series (with sh2i gene technology), QuadSweets, processor-grade SH2 sweet corn varieties, long/short/intermediate day onion varieties, and popcorn hybrids.
Product overview
Crookham Company is a family-owned seed company established in 1911, specializing in sweet corn, onion, and popcorn seed breeding and production. The company operates as a wholesale seed producer with one of the world's largest popcorn, onion, and sweet corn seed banks. Product portfolio consists of multiple product lines: (1) Sweet Corn Fresh Market - including Nirvana Series (Nirvana, Eden RMN, Solstice, Equinox, Golden Halo, Elysian) featuring sh2i gene technology and QuadSweets (Temptress, Nectar, Diamond Mine, Gold Standard); (2) Sweet Corn Processors - SH2 varieties (Baja, Braveheart, Fortitude Improved, Galaxy, Galaxy Improved, Grenadier, Impress, Landcruiser, Leadership, Ontario, Ontario Improved, Palisade, Raygun, Samson, Snogum, Strongheart, Townsend, Triple Threat, ZHY5233OD); (3) Onions - Long Day, Intermediate Day, and Short Day varieties (including Mesilla, Redrock); (4) Robust Popcorn - varieties R265, R502, R98114W; (5) Novelty Corn - Carousel and Fiesta ornamental varieties. The company pioneered hybrid sweet corn production on commercial scale and produces seed in the Treasure Valley of Idaho, supplying approximately 65% of the world's hybrid sweet corn seed.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- QuadSweets: A sweet corn product line combining super sweets and sugary enhanced varieties, marketed as meeting market demand for heirloom taste with modern sweetness.
- Nirvana Series
- sh2i Seed
Products and services
- Nirvana Series (Sweet Corn) Premium sweet corn product line featuring exceptional emergence, vigor, ease in picking and packing, holding power, and exceptional taste/texture. Series includes sh2i gene varieties (Nirvana, Eden RMN, Solstice, Equinox, Golden Halo) plus augmented bicolor Elysian. Known for crisp bite, unsurpassed sweetness, high yielding uniform full-tipped ears. Targeted at fresh market growers.
- QuadSweets (Sweet Corn) Sweet corn product line combining characteristics of supersweet (sh2) and sugary enhanced varieties. Kernels segregate 9 se to 7 supersweet on ear. Meets market demand for heirloom taste with modern sweetness. Includes Temptress, Nectar, Diamond Mine, Gold Standard varieties. Solid agronomics with strong emergence, sturdy plant, robust disease package.
- SH2 Sweet Corn Processor Varieties Commercial processor-grade sweet corn seed varieties including Galaxy, Galaxy Improved, Grenadier, Triple Threat, Braveheart, Baja, Fortitude Improved, Landcruiser, Leadership, Ontario, Ontario Improved, Palisade, Raygun, Samson, Snogum, Strongheart, Townsend, Impress, and ZHY5233OD. These SH2 varieties deliver high yield, uniform ear shape, excellent cut kernel recovery, flexible harvest windows, and strong lodging resistance for industrial canning, freezing, cut kernel, and cob processing operations.
- Onion Seed Varieties Commercial onion seed portfolio organized by day-length category: Short Day varieties (Mesilla, Redrock) with record-breaking yields in 2024 New Mexico trials, Intermediate Day varieties for transitional growing zones, and Long Day varieties (Defender) with adaptability and strong performance in Treasure Valley, Idaho production. Targeted at commercial onion growers across the U.S. and Mexico.
- Popcorn Seed Hybrids Hybrid popcorn seed varieties including R265 (early yellow with large orange grain and very high MWVT expansion), R502 (mid-season yellow butterfly with high expansion and disease resistance), and R98114W (white popcorn with strong stalk, delicate flakes, and small hulls for exceptional eating quality). Distributed through European and international partners.
- Novelty and Ornamental Corn Specialty novelty and ornamental corn varieties including Carousel (open-pollinated miniature ears in red and multicolored forms with crispy popped flakes) and Fiesta (hybridized Indian corn with blue, red, yellow, white tones, 7-10 inch ears, approximately 100 days maturity). Targeted at decorative and specialty market segments.
- sh2i Seed Technology Platform Advanced shrunken sweet corn seed technology with improved germination and performance over standard sh2. Plump kernel without jagged edges, approximately 28% heavier than standard shrunken seed. Better flowability, improved plantability, less skips and fewer doubles. Protected technology licensed from Syngenta Crop Protection AG. Available across Nirvana Series varieties.
Quantifiable outcome
- sh2i germination rates: Warm Test 94% vs 89% for standard sh2; Cold Test 94% vs 88%; Soil Test 98% vs 86%; Sand Test 94% vs 86%
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use crookham.com
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
crookham.com technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
crookham.com partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Syngenta Crop Protection AGcoreCrookham Company licenses the sh2i gene technology from Syngenta. The Nirvana Series with sh2i includes protected technology from Crookham Company and one or more patents owned and controlled by Syngenta Crop Protection AG. This is a critical licensing partnership for the company's sh2i product line.
- Harris SeedscoreHarris Seeds is a distributor for Epiphany, a sh2i Nirvana Series sweet corn variety. Harris Seeds serves as a key retail and wholesale distribution channel for Crookham Company's products in certain regions.
- Gowan SeedscoreGowan Seeds distributes Epiphany, a sh2i Nirvana Series sweet corn variety. Gowan Seeds serves as a distribution partner for Crookham Company's products.
- NorescocoreNoresco distributes Epiphany, a sh2i Nirvana Series sweet corn variety, serving European and international markets.
- SeedwaycoreSeedway distributes Xanadu, a Nirvana Series sweet corn variety, as a regional seed distributor.
- RuppscoreRupps distributes Xanadu, a Nirvana Series sweet corn variety, as a regional seed distributor.
- RispenscoreRispens distributes Xanadu, a Nirvana Series sweet corn variety, as a regional seed distributor.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
crookham.com competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Seminis (Bayer Vegetable Seeds): Bayer-owned vegetable seed brand with deep sweet corn, onion, and popcorn portfolios; a leading direct competitor to Crookham's processor and fresh-market sweet corn lines.
- Corteva Agriscience: Global seed and crop protection company with a Pioneer-branded vegetable seed business that competes in hybrid sweet corn and onion genetics for U.S. and international markets.
- Syngenta (vegetable seeds division): Global ag-input giant and Crookham's licensor for the sh2i gene; overlaps in hybrid sweet corn genetics and competes broadly in vegetable seeds across fresh and processing markets.
- HM Clause (Limagrain): Vegetable seed division of Limagrain with global sweet corn and onion programs; competes with Crookham in hybrid vegetable genetics for both fresh and processing markets.
- BASF Nunhems: BASF's vegetable seeds business; competes with Crookham across multiple crops and geographies with substantially larger R&D and distribution scale.
Direct peers
- Bejo Seeds: Family-owned Dutch vegetable seed breeder with comparable specialty focus on onions, sweet corn, and other crops; competes with Crookham in international vegetable seed markets.
- Enza Zaden: Independent global vegetable seed breeder with strong onion and sweet corn programs; competes with Crookham in breeding, licensing, and supply of premium fresh and processing varieties.
- Johnny's Selected Seeds: U.S.-based employee-owned vegetable seed company supplying commercial growers with sweet corn and onion varieties; overlaps with Crookham in fresh-market and small-grower segments.
- Rijk Zwaan: Family-owned Dutch vegetable seed breeder with broad portfolio including sweet corn and onion varieties; directly competes with Crookham in hybrid vegetable seed development and global distribution.
- Stokes Seeds: North American vegetable and flower seed distributor and breeder offering sweet corn and onion varieties; comparable go-to-market as a B2B seed supplier to growers and processors.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
crookham.com social profiles
Digital presencecrookham.com financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
crookham.com leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
crookham.com funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
crookham.com M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about crookham.com
What does crookham.com do?
Crookham Company develops, breeds, and produces hybrid sweet corn, popcorn, and onion seed varieties at its Treasure Valley, Idaho operations. The company sells these seeds wholesale to regional distributors, custom production customers, and commercial growers in the U.S., Europe, and international markets. Its portfolio includes proprietary product lines such as the Nirvana Series (with sh2i gene technology), QuadSweets, processor-grade SH2 sweet corn varieties, long/short/intermediate day onion varieties, and popcorn hybrids.
Is crookham.com a public or private company?
crookham.com is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was crookham.com founded?
crookham.com was founded in 1911. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is crookham.com based?
crookham.com is headquartered in Caldwell, United States, in the North America region.
How does crookham.com make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Seed Sales (Wholesale) is the primary driver. The others are licensed Technology (sh2i).
Who are crookham.com's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Seminis (Bayer Vegetable Seeds), Corteva Agriscience, Syngenta (vegetable seeds division), HM Clause (Limagrain) and BASF Nunhems. Direct peers are Bejo Seeds, Enza Zaden, Johnny's Selected Seeds, Rijk Zwaan and Stokes Seeds.
Does crookham.com have an API?
No public API is recorded for crookham.com.
What industry is crookham.com in?
crookham.com's product category is Agricultural Seeds. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAGAIAF, Plant Breeding & Variety Development (Conventional), with a secondary code of AFAGAIAD, Hybrid Seed Production. Its NAICS code is 111930 and its SIC code is 100.