![]() ![]() ![]() “This is of greater importance to us than certified organic seed imported from China.” “We are increasingly interested in more locally grown seed and supporting small, innovative local growers,” Nichols McGee says. One of the trends revealed by the survey responses is rising interest in locally produced, organically grown garden seeds. We often have to clean up a variety and find our own grower to get good seed.” Local-Ganic Seeds “We have found that some strains are inferior, typically having off-types in the mix. “It is important that seed companies compare the quality of the organic seed strains to the conventional,” says Roberta Bailey of Fedco Seeds in Maine. The organic label offers no protection against quality issues, an unavoidable problem as the organic seed industry has scrambled to meet demand. “With the compromises in the integrity of organic standards, I will continue to purchase from family farmers who I have trusted for more than 30 years,” says Westwind’s Reggie Smith. Many seed companies, such as Westwind Seeds in Arizona, have been doing business this way for decades, and their customers simply trust them to make decisions for them at the wholesale level. It is legal to grow and sell up to $5,000 annually of “organically grown” seed, but you can’t call it “certified organic” or put the Organic seal on it. #REGGY SMITH DECORAH PLUS#Skipping certification can save a small-scale seed producer $750 (minimum) in costs and fees, plus the mountain of documentation required for organic certification. ![]() Some companies offer seeds that are grown using organic methods, but without being certified. But companies that carry large selections of vegetable, flower and herb seeds report that securing sources of high-quality organic seed is a constant challenge. Other companies are growing more of their own seed, a strategy that is working well for companies that sell mostly tomatoes, herbs or other limited mixtures of crops. Like many other seed people, Rose Marie Nichols McGee of Nichols Garden Nursery in Oregon, is finding more qualified local growers to help her meet increasing demand for organic seeds. This problem is most limiting for large seed companies, which must have a huge seed supply set by before offering a variety to hundreds of thousands of customers. The biggest obstacle facing seed companies is consistent availability of high-quality certified organic seed. “When you buy organic seed, not only are you getting a ‘safe seed’ and one that is grown in organic conditions like your own farm or garden, you are supporting the future of organics,” she says. Speaking for High Mowing Organic Seeds in Vermont, which sells all organic seed, retail sales and marketing manager Gwenael Engelskirchen made a strong case for organic seeds. Read on for a list of companies offering 25 percent or more organic selections.Ībout half of the seed merchants reported that their customers prefer to buy certified organic or biodynamic seed, and about 75 percent of companies plan to expand their selection of organic seed in the future. The number of organic varieties offered by many larger companies is increasing, too, with Burpee, Johnny’s and Territorial each offering about 150 organically grown vegetables and herbs. We learned that High Mowing Organic Seeds, Seeds of Change, Bountiful Gardens and about 10 other companies sell 100 percent organic or biodynamic seed, while a dozen other companies estimate that more than 75 percent of their listings are organic. Are more companies selling organic seed? What are some reasons why companies aren’t offering them? How important is organic seed to customers? Last fall, we invited about 200 seed companies from across the United States and Canada to share their thoughts and observations on the subject of organic garden seeds. One of the trends our survey brought to light was a rising interest in locally produced, organically grown garden seeds. ![]()
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