Organic Seed Companies Respond to Increasing Demand
Our seed company survey reveals what seed companies and customers think about the importance of going organic, and points to challenges companies face in obtaining organic certification.
By Barbara Pleasant
January 11, 2011
 |
One of the trends our survey brought to light was a rising interest in locally produced, organically grown garden seeds.
PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO/CHRIS PRICE
|
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. Are more companies selling organic seed? What are some reasons why companies aren’t offering them? How important is organic seed to customers?
RELATED CONTENT
When we surveyed more than 200 mail-order seed companies about their organic seed stock and what th...
Seed Savers Exchange and Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds have high-quality open-pollinated seeds and hei...
Ocean waves and tidal coastal currents could contribute significantly to U.S. electricity productio...
Despite record rice and maize yields around the world, global wheat production dropped substantiall...
Dioxins make their way into the water stream in the paper bleaching process, but Ben & Jerry's and ...
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. 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. Read on for a list of companies offering 25 percent or more organic selections.
About 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. 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. “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.
The biggest obstacle facing seed companies is consistent availability of high-quality certified organic seed. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Page: 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
Next >>
