FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2012
CONTACT
Kristina Hubbard, Organic Seed Alliance, (406) 493-6965, kristina@seedalliance.org
AOSCA Announces New Organic Seed Database
Organic Seed Finder to serve as reliable organic seed resource
PORT TOWNSEND, Sept. 25, 2012 – Next month, the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) will launch Organic Seed Finder, a free on-line tool for farmers, certifiers, and others looking to source certified organic seed.
Organic Seed Finder will go live on October 1, 2012, at www.organicseedfinder.org.
The database aims to facilitate the growth and success of the organic seed sector, and support farmers in meeting the National Organic Program’s organic seed requirement. Organic remains one of the fastest growing segments of U.S. food production.
Users can search by crop type for certified organic varieties in the marketplace and receive reliable seed availability information. The database will continue to expand with more seed vendors and varieties in the coming months.
“Since its inception in 1919, AOSCA and seed certifying agencies around the globe have maintained strict standards to insure that growers have access to pure varieties of high quality seed,” said Chet Boruff, AOSCA Chief Executive Officer. “Offering the Organic Seed Finder database is a natural progression for our organization to support this important and growing segment of the seed industry.”
“When farmers find seed that is optimal for their farms, the entire organic food industry benefits,” says Kristina Hubbard with Organic Seed Alliance, who facilitated a working group to support Organic Seed Finder. “The organic community has long called for a new organic seed database.
Seed companies pay an annual fee to list their organic varieties in the database. Organic industry sponsorships also support Organic Seed Finder. If your business or organization would like to sponsor the database, or if you are a seed vendor interested in posting organic varieties, contact AOSCA at organicseedfinder@aosca.org or (309) 736-0120.
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