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    Link to: organic seeds sources

Link to: Organic seed sourcing service

With the adoption of the Federal Organic Rule, organic producers are now required to use organically grown seeds and planting stock at all times unless an equivalent variety is not commercially available. The only exception to commercially availability is that organically produced seed must be used for the production of edible sprouts. This section of the Federal Rule can be found in 205.204, Seeds and planting stock practice standard.

Finding organic seeds and being able to sufficiently document commercial availability can be tough at times for organic farmers. Especially farmers with diverse crop production and annual vegetables or herbs.

The documentation of commercial availability is not yet defined in the Federal Organic Rule and has been left up for clarification by individual certification agencies. HOFA currently requires documentation of at least two failed attempts to source organic seeds and planting stock before an untreated, non-organically produced variety would be accepted for organic production.

The intent of this requirement in the Federal Organic Rule is to ensure the support and livelihood of organic seed production and organic crop production methods.

Why would an organic farmer choose to purchase seeds not produced by the same methods they adhere to?

Price for one. Organically produced seeds, as with all organic products, are more intensively managed and cared for which drives up the cost of production. Included in this cost is the price of certification; the consumers insurance that the product has been produced by a uniform set of organic standards.

A second reason a farmer may choose non-organically produced seeds is that darn commercial availability. Being that organic seeds are grown on a much smaller, intensively managed scale, it is not always possible to find an organic source for the seeds you are determined to grow. The National Organic Program, with help from accredited certifiers, is currently working out a list of those seeds determined to be commercially un-available.

With the already high-cost of organic crop production methods, the requirement to use more expensive and difficult to find organic seed sources can be a heavy burden on organic farmers. The intent of the Federal Organic Rule and the continued support of organic agriculture and organic seed production are invaluable. The tools to find organic seed sources should be more readily available to lessen this burden on organic farmers.

Listed are organic seed producers that have come across our path and many that supply bulk seeds for large organic operations. While we cannot recommend specific sources we feel it is important to share both the requirements and the tools of implementation.

The following are suppliers of 100% organic seeds and merely a starting point in finding the best possible tools for your organic production system. We do not personally endorse or recommend any seed sources listed here, they are merely listed  for your information.              

BA– bulk seed available

SOUTHERN EXPOSURE-BA

SPROUTING SEEDS

MUMM’S SPROUTING SEEDS

Organic Heirloom, un-treated, organic seed suppliers mostly in North America

www.greenpeople.org/seeds.htm

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Hawaii Organic Farmers Association (HOFA)
 P.O. Box 6863, Hilo, HI 96720
 Phone: (808) 969-7789    Fax: (808) 969-7759 
Email: hofa@hawaiiorganicfarmers.org
Copyright 2002