As the greenhouse fills with starts and the first direct-seeded spring crops sprout in the fields, we’ve been thinking about how much easier it is to get organic seed than it used to be.
In fact, one of the encouraging trends that we have witnessed over the last fifteen years of farming is the development of a viable organic seed industry (no pun intended). We have always sought out organic seed, and certified organic growers are obligated to use organically grown seed when it is available, but it has not always been as available as it is now. While the organic regulations sometimes do not go far enough in requiring organic farms to use organic seed (as in the case of strawberry crowns, as Steve wrote about in “Organic Strawberries from Conventional Stock?”), the requirements have been enough to push even the large organic farms to buy organic when available (and not prohibitively expensive). However, the large farms often go only as far as they absolutely need to to meet the requirements, so it is also a tribute to the collective power of more progressive smaller farms that the organic seed industry has really taken off. As a farm, we are also a consumer, and just as you make conscious decisions about whom you support with your dollars, we do as well. We spent over $30,000 last year on seed purchases. While this is not a large amount in comparison to the huge farms around us, it’s still enough to feel that we can have some small impact on the market.
In the early days, few organic seed varieties were available, and when they were, they often cost more than twice as much per pound as their conventionally grown counterparts. There were also questions about quality. It may have been that the organic seed growers were on the early part of the learning curve, or that demand was so low that the seed ended up sitting around for too long. But many growers had bad experiences using organically grown seed in the early days.
Over the last decade, however, both availability and quality have improved greatly. From beets and beans to bunched greens, squashes and herbs, we have reached the point where the majority of the seed we buy is grown organically. And the quality in almost all cases is excellent. While it is still more expensive than conventional seed, prices in general have come down as availability has increased.
All of this is great news, but until now I have not been able to find organic seed for the beautiful, productive, disease-resistant varieties of lettuce and spinach that are mainly coming out of Europe. Because we don’t use the fungicides that are commonly used in conventional fields, using varieties that have been selected for their natural resistance to fungal diseases, like the downy mildew that is so prevalent here along the coast, is critical.
Into this void has stepped the Vitalis Seed Company. Vitalis, which is a division of the Dutch seed company Enza Zaden, is an organic seed company with a very active breeding program. They like to try out their seed in real world conditions in different climates, and we are happy to help. Last year we trialed over twenty of their lettuce varieties, and found several that we really liked. This year we will be cooperating with them on trials of several more lettuce varieties, endives, arugula, and herbs.
The more we can help the organic seed companies to produce high quality seed, the more organic seed will be bought by farms of all sizes. As organic agriculture increases in proportion to conventional agriculture, it is vital to make sure that the first step in growing our food – the creation of the seed – is also done in an environmentally sound and safe manner.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
