September 22 Sunday Discovery Session is Mint to Be: A 150-Year Empire

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum's monthly Sunday Discovery Series explores dynamic topics related to Museum exhibits and the community. All Sunday Discovery Series talks begin at 1:30 p.m. and are free.

September 22 - Mint to Be: A 150-Year Empire of Kalamazoo
A.M. Todd descendants and current employees will present the prolific legacy of the local company. Learn from Kalamazoo's own A. M. Todd Company the art, science, and story behind 150 years of mint innovation.

It took innovation unlike any other to go from a field of mint plants to tasty toothpaste. But those who enjoy that fresh, clean flavor after a good brushing, have Kalamazoo's own A. M. Todd Company to thank for it.

The story begins in 1869, when Albert May Todd transformed his passion for mint farming into a highly successful business. Learn how the A. M. Todd Company became the first of its kind to be vertically integrated from the farm field to the finished flavor. Mr. Todd recognized the value that his business could provide to customers by establishing quality standards, stable supply, and consumer-preferred flavors.

The A. M. Todd legacy continues on in Kalamazoo 150 years later through Archer Daniels Midland (ADM). Learn about the science behind favorite flavors with ongoing research and development that allows the creation of new varieties of mint to combat disease, increase yield, standardize farming practices, and develop plants which define the sensory experience.

Hear what it means to have award-winning mint flavors created here in Kalamazoo by A. M. Todd's world-class Flavor Creation and Application teams. Come early for some special surprises prepared by A. M. Todd to share and celebrate 150 years of business in Kalamazoo. The Kalamazoo Valley Museum opens to the public at 1 p.m. on Sunday, September 22.

Admission to the Kalamazoo Valley Museum is free. The Kalamazoo Valley Museum is operated by Kalamazoo Valley Community College and is governed by its Board of Trustees.