Save Our Seed Project

Organic Seed Sourcing Service, Expanded and Relocated for 2007

Pittsboro, NC – December 4, 2006 – The Save Our Seed project is addressing one of the most daunting problems among organic producers with our free Organic Seed Sourcing Service. By making readily available our access to comprehensive seed dealer databases, we are able to quickly and easily provide lists of available organic seeds to growers with specific requests. We are now more accessible on the web at www.organicseedsourcing.com, and this year we are also offering, when available to us, lists of equivalent cultivars in the case that the requested seed is, to our knowledge, not available organically. These lists will be provided to us by seed dealers if they feel they offer a seed comparable to one being sought by the grower.

According to the USDA’s organic legislation, organic producers must use available organic seeds for all organic production during certification as well as the three years prior to certification. While working with organic growers (certified, transitional, and considering certification), we have found that among their largest complaints is the lack of a knowledgebase about which seeds are and are not available organically. Unfortunately, we have talked to a number of farmers who have chosen not to certify for this reason. One organic grower even reported to us that her certifier required her to send a list of all of the seeds that she could not find organically so that he could do his own search, which he did not do in a timely manner.

The Save Our Seed project uses networks of growers and seed dealers to address this problem. The Organic Seed Sourcing Service accepts organic “wish lists” from growers and replies to them with the following information:

• A complete list of the numerous certified organic seed dealers which we have searched in order to document the request, along with contact information for each.
• Documentation of where and how to purchase any sourced organic seeds, complete with prices
• Requested seeds which to the best of our knowledge are not available organically will be documented for certification purposes.
• Finally, for any requested seeds that we cannot source organically, organic seed dealers may have equivalent cultivars to suggest. If this is the case, these will be documented as well.

In our effort to continue to uphold a complete and thorough sourcing service, we encourage clients to let us know if there are any organic seed dealers that are not listed so that we can add them to our database.

This service is currently available for free and it will continue to be so throughout 2007. To use the service, growers seeking organic seed can send a list of the organic seeds they are seeking to Cricket Rakita at cricket@organicseedsourcing.com, or by going directly to our new website at www.organicseedsourcing.com. Requests can also be faxed to (540) 894-8060 or mailed to: Cricket Rakita, Coordinator, The Saving Our Seed Project, 286 Dixie Hollow, Louisa, VA 23093.

Appropriate information to include when requesting a search is variety name, type, quantity sought, and/or maximum days to harvest, as well as the address to which the result should be e-mailed or mailed.

Questions? Call Cricket at (540)-894-8865.

About CFSA

Carolina Farm Stewardship Association is a non-profit membership organization of over 750 farmers, processors, gardeners, consumers, researchers, organizations, and businesses in North and South Carolina who are committed to creating a sustainable agriculture system through the development and promotion of local and organic farms and distribution systems. Our mission is to support and expand local and organic agriculture in the Carolinas by inspiring, educating, and organizing farmers and consumers.

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