Organic standards require organic food to be grown from organic seed, but a new report from Organic Seed Alliance (OCA) found that the supply of organic seeds isn’t keeping pace with the rising demand for organic products. In 2015, sales of organic products totaled $43 billion.
Organic farmers say that organic seed does need to be used because all seed is not the same.
Most commercial seed is bred to rely on the high fertilizer inputs of industrial agriculture. Organic farmers need seed bred to thrive on the slow release of nutrients from organic soil amendments.
THE US Department of Agriculture (USDA) allows some leeway for certified organic foods and fibers due to lack of supply.
Though the supply of organic seed is increasing, today only 27 percent of organic farmers use 100 percent organic seed.
If you are growing an organic garden, use organic seed for best results.
