People are choosing to buy organic fruits and vegetables, but few know just where their produce comes from. It's no surprise that organic produce comes from organic seeds, which are produced much differently than conventional seeds. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Organic Program has strict standards for organic foods to ensure they are free of synthetic chemicals, from seed to supermarket.
Definition
Organic seeds are, basically, seeds used to grow organic grains, fruits and vegetables. For a crop to be labeled organic by the USDA, it must be grown with organic seeds, unless they are not commercially available, according to Texas A&M University's AgriLife Extension. Organic seeds must be produced and handled by certified organic farmers, and they must not be treated with synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers.
Organic vs. Conventional
The main difference between organic seeds and conventional ones is the absence of synthetic chemicals. According to AgriLife, conventional vegetable seed crops rely on petroleum-based synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Crops grown for the special purpose of producing seeds require heavier applications than those grown for vegetable harvesting. This is because they are grown for a longer season, and the regulations controlling the amount and types of pesticides used for seed crops is much more lenient. Organic seed production, on the other hand, only uses natural pesticides and fertilizers, in lower amounts. Some conventional seeds are also known as genetically modified, meaning that scientists change a seed's DNA to work with certain chemicals or to resist certain pests.
Pollution
According to AgriLife, using organic seeds can help minimize the amount of upstream pollution produced by farms as well as limit harmful effects on the soil. A large portion of pesticides, fungicides and fertilizers used to grow conventional seeds ends up in rivers and streams, and possibly even in public water supplies. These chemicals can also harm the soil, leading to erosion and soil degradation.
Plant Breeding
Geneticists, biologists and farmers are now researching ways to develop crop varieties adapted to organic production systems, meaning plants that are naturally resistant to insects, weeds and disease as well as naturally tolerant to climatic and environmental stresses, such as cold soil or too much heat. According to AgriLife, geneticists have produced plants that have increased root growth or large spreading leaf canopies, for example, through plant breeding. This means that organic seeds from these crops can produce plants that don't need much chemical treatment. Unlike genetically modified seeds, organic seed producers change plants through natural plant breeding or exposing seed plants to harsher conditions, making them tougher over generations.
How to Get Organic Seeds
There are several seed companies that sell organic seeds, such as Abundant Life Seeds, Blue River Organic Seeds, Nature's Crossroads and Seeds of Change. The Organic Seed Alliance features many organic seed companies. Many farmers and gardeners also choose to save their own seeds from organically grown crops to use for future plantings.
