"Certified Organic" Seed Does Not Always Mean Regionally Adapted

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Bill Braun points out something many gardeners miss when reading seed catalogs: for a seed to carry a certified-organic label, the only legal requirement is that it be grown on an organic farm for one year. That does not mean the seed was bred under organic conditions, nor that it is adapted to your local climate and soil. Much commercially sold seed — including certified-organic seed — is grown far from where it will be planted, using breeding programs designed for industrial, non-organic systems. Braun's practical advice: look for farm-based seed companies that grow what they sell, are transparent about where seeds are grown, and focus on regional adaptation. Knowing your seed company, he argues, matters as much as knowing your farmer.