Gardeners increasingly have the option to purchase certified organic seed from seed catalogs and the seed racks at farm and garden supply stores. Some seed supply companies offer an entire organic line; others have a few organic varieties amongst their non-organic selections. Organic seeds often cost more and there may be fewer types to choose from, but the benefits of organic seeds make the purchase well worth it for many consumers.
Fewer Chemicals
Crops grown for seed stock stay in the ground longer than those grown for produce harvest, so conventional growers douse these crops with more applications of agricultural chemicals, according to the Institute for Responsible Technology, a non-profit organization dedicated to disseminating information regarding healthier foods and agricultural engineering impacts. Since the seeds are not a direct food crop, governmental limits on chemical application are also less restrictive. These chemicals include pesticides that can be damaging to air and water quality as well as human health, according to the Institute for Sustainable Technology. Organic seeds are free of these chemicals, and purchasing organic seed benefits the environment by supporting the continuation and expansion of less chemical-intensive agricultural businesses.
Better Adapted
Organic seed growers and breeders focus on the kinds of produce traits that are desirable for organic gardeners, market farmers and consumers, suggests the Institute for Responsible Technology. Traits preferred by organic growers and customers are often ignored by conventional seed developers; for example, large agricultural businesses may prefer a crop which ripens all at once for ease of machine harvesting, while organic gardeners prefer a crop which ripens at varied times through the season to provide ongoing fresh produce for the dinner table. Organic varieties benefit the home and small market gardener by having been tailor-bred to their needs. Organically produced seed will also give rise to plants more likely to thrive under typical organic growing conditions, says High Mowing Seeds, a small organic seed grower in Wolcott, Vermont.
Organic Certification
Market gardeners and farmers who obtain the Certified Organic designation for the United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program are authorized to label their produce as Certified Organic or 100% Organic. This is a marketing asset, especially to small growers competing with large industrial agricultural producers for a market share of the restaurant and supermarket trade. As a general rule, certified organic growers must use organic seed and planting stock, according to the Organic Farming Compliance Handbook. Certified organic growers can only use non-organic seed and seedlings when there is no commercially available organic stock, under a temporary variance from the USDA, or under a few other narrowly-defined exemptions. Using non-organic seeds and planting stock on a regular basis or without meeting these exceptions can lead to a loss of the grower's organic certification.
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