“I can adapt crops to the conditions on my organic farm and in my regional climate thanks to my partnership with Organic Seed Alliance. I know how to grow crops. But I don’t know how to breed them.”
– Nash Huber of Nash’s Organic Producer in Sequim, Washington
The Pacific Northwest has some of the best seed producing areas in the world. For example, Brassica vegetable seed crops produced in Washington and similar regions of Oregon have provided up to 50% of the US supply of seed and up to 25% of the world’s supply used to grow these vegetables. The region is therefore critical for expanding the US’s burgeoning organic seed trade, beginning with plant breeding. (See our regional assessment of organic plant breeding needs.)
Organic Seed Alliance’s collaborations with farmers, researchers, and the seed and food industry are fostering a regional seed system that is responsive to the needs of organic agriculture.
Organic Seed Alliance’s Pacific Northwest partnerships and projects are well-established. In 2015, we broke ground on our first research field at the Finnriver Farm in Chimacum, providing a central location for most of our organic variety trial, plant breeding, and seed production projects in the region. The farm also serves as a venue for workshops, tastings, and field days. We’ve hosted eight biennial Organic Seed Growers Conferences in the region as well.
Our Pacific Northwest research focuses on vegetable crops, some grains, and beneficial flowers for pollinators.
Here are a few project updates:
- Are You Growing Purple Sprouting Broccoli?
- Working Around the Calendar to Breed Carrots
- Breeding Sweet Corn for the Pacific Northwest
- Purple Sprouting Broccoli Now in Season
- Breeding Better Tomatoes for Organic Agriculture
- OSA’s ‘Abundant Bloomsdale’ Spinach Hits Market
