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The most compelling reason for using organic seed when growing
organic crops is that seed produced organically has had less chemical
impact on the environment. For many organic farmers, however, the
disease resistance and productivity of conventionally produced seed
varieties is a big factor in the success of their crops.
Until recently, few of these varieties were available as
organically produced varieties, especially in the case of proprietary
F-1 hybrids. That scarcity is changing due to the most recent
regulations under the National Organic Program (NOP), which now
requires that growers use Organic Seed if it is available. There are,
however, no clear guidelines yet for determining what constitutes
‘availablity’.
At the current level
of enforcement by Organic Certifying Agencies, organic farmers are
sometimes exempted from using organic seed if it is not equivalent
to the conventional variety that they have been using. Exemptions have
been given if the organic seed is not the same Kind (named
variety), the same Quality (the organic seed is less than usual
germination the farmer’s conventionally produced planting seed) or the
same Form (the organic seed is not available as primed or
pelleted seed). A recent ruling by the USDA has determined that a
higher than conventional market price is no longer an acceptable
basis for granting exemptions. While we strive to keep our prices as
near to conventional as possible, producing organic seed is more
difficult and costly than conventional seed production.
In the
summer of 2004, ESP will conduct organic trials of many of our organic
Vegetable, Herb and Flower varieties. We invite you to visit us during
late July and August to evaluate the quality of our products. We also
encourage you to trial our seed in your conditions and compare it to
what you are currently using.
Supporting organic
seed farmers is supporting the environment, the quality of the air and
water, and the health of the local inhabitants. It is supporting the
Organic Industry to its roots. We urge all farmers who are skeptical
about organic seed to trial our products in an organic setting, and
see what the benefits are of this new regulation. We sell quality seed
to organic farmers, seed packet companies, and
CSA's. We generally require a $100 minimum order, but please inquire about
any varieties you would like to grow on a trial basis. We believe our
seeds will pass the test when compared with other varieties, and
support any feedback about our seeds. |
PREVIEW
OF SOME OF OUR ORGANIC SEED VARIETIES
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47
varieties of flowers >>> |
 F-1 Sunflower
'Jerusalem Gold' (left) is a pollenless, cut flower
variety which is perfect
and long lasting for market.
Zinnia,
Pasteldreams (right)
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36 varieties of
herbs >>> |
 Greek
Miniature basil is a compact variety that is perfect for small
areas and produces leaves that with a strong basil flavor.
Parsley, Flat Leaf (left)
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Sweet
pepper, Corno di Toro