Allan Davis

AGE 64

MILITARY SERVICE

U.S Air Force, 1968-1972, Staff Sergeant (E-5)
 

THE COMPANY

Terroir Seeds LLC. And Underwood Gardens

LOCATION Chino Valley, Ariz.

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES 4

NUMBER OF MILITARY EMPLOYEES 3

WEBSITE:  www.underwoodgardens.com

YEAR FOUNDED 2008
 

Fast Facts

FAVORITE TV SHOW:  “American Idol”

ROLE MODEL: Warren Buffett

DREAM JOB:  Tax Attorney

ALMA MATER:  University of Charleston

FAVORITE MOVIE STAR:  Julia Roberts

FAVORITE MUSICIAN:  Elton John

WHAT MAKES YOU JUMP OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING? The beautiful sunshine and weather in Prescott, Ariz.

WHAT MAKES YOU NERVOUS? Lack of knowledge of bankers

WHO DO YOU MOST ADMIRE? My wife, Eileen
 

Brief Write Up

Allan Davis bought Underwood Gardens in Sept. 2008 and relocated the company from Woodstock, Ill. to Chino Valley, Ariz.   He said his family desired to start a business that would utilize his daughter’s education in greenhouse managing and his son-in-law’s background in sales and marketing.

The business, established in 1993, sells high-quality vegetable seeds for people to plant in either small or large gardens.  The company sells online or over the phone to people who want to know where their food is coming from. 

Terroir Seeds LLC and Underwood Gardens works with a network of gardeners and family growers across the country who grow seed out for them. They also work with a handful of selected seed wholesalers and they grow many of the varieties themselves.

Davis said the hardest part about launching his business was securing financing for a veteran-owned business.  The economy was not helping either. 

“The banks were not lending,” Davis said.

After four failed attempts to secure a small business loan for Terroir Seeds LLC, the company was successful in 2009. 

Davis describes his keys to success as hard work, family ethics and the desire to never give up.

“My personal motto is ‘it is not over, until it is over’,” Davis said.

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