I am so delighted to find this update. I am part of a group who is just starting this in the UK and I hadn't seen anything about a campaign like this anywhere!
I heard from botanical Interests. So I won't be buying from them anymore.
Hi Sarah! I’m Lorin, Botanical Interests’ horticulturist. Our seeds are sourced both here in the US and abroad. We typically do not identify the companies we work with by name, usually at their request; many smaller seed farmers just don’t have the personnel available to interact directly with the public, which is why they grow for the seed industry. As a company, we strive to provide the highest-quality seeds we can. We intend to provide only reliable varieties that you can trust, and we have third-party seed analysis labs confirm the germination rates on all of our seed lots to ensure that our customers will succeed with our seeds.
But this means we cannot promise that we won’t sell seeds from a specific country in the future. After all, some patented varieties can only come from their original breeder or patent holder. If our customers ask for specific patented varieties, we often must work directly with their source, no matter where they’re located; otherwise, we can’t get the seeds our customers are asking for.
We realize this may mean you won’t purchase from us, and we’re very sorry about that. But we do hope you understand the position that we’re in; it all comes down to ensuring we can provide quality seeds of the varieties our customers have requested.
Keep on Growing 🌻
Lorin Nielsen
Head Horticulturist, Senior Botanical Editor & Content Strategist
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(I posted a comment but not sure it went through or not!). Anyway, I'm part of a group based in the UK who are hoping to do the same and campaign once we have the info. We're only just at the point of sending out the letters to all the companies. Just wanted to say that I was so happy to find your post. We hadn't realised there were any campaigns around Israeli seeds, so this is such encouraging news!
Hi Disha, This is new to me and if it is true, which I’m not convinced it is, it is only because of pressure. Fedco has not put out any public statements saying they will end purchasing Israeli seed. If you have seen a statement made publicly, please share. As you can see by some of the responses from other seed companies, there are those who have clearly and publicly renounced support of seed from stolen Palestinian land (Israeli seed). I will email Fedco, again.
hi there as a farmer I appreciate you putting this to our attention
I’d also like to clarify some of the information being shared here about FEDCO. I have friends who work there & this is what they directly shared with me “We didn’t purchase from any Israeli seed companies this year and don’t plan to again. We are still selling some varieties that we purchased from Genesis, an Israeli company, prior to Oct 7 2023”
they also said you could call or email Fedco for their exact response about this
Thanks for sharing their response. However, I didn't do the research on Fedco, my friend Mary Dunn did. She reports that they have consistently refused to pledge not to source seeds from Israel. And based on what you've posted, they are actively doing so.
Also, what is their point in pretending that brutalization and expulsion of Palestinians from their homes hasn't been going on since 1948? The wife of their founder is an ardent Zionist, and these are the kind of lies and half-truths I expect from ardent Zionists.
I love Truelove Seeds and Southern Exposure Seed exchange. I also love Wild Garden Seed, home of Frank Morton, famous breeder of lettuce and kale, amongst other things. All of their seed is organically grown on their farm, according to a statement on their website.
I am going to write to Botanical Interests and San Diego Seed company.
What an amazing response from Southern Exposure
I am so delighted to find this update. I am part of a group who is just starting this in the UK and I hadn't seen anything about a campaign like this anywhere!
I heard from botanical Interests. So I won't be buying from them anymore.
Hi Sarah! I’m Lorin, Botanical Interests’ horticulturist. Our seeds are sourced both here in the US and abroad. We typically do not identify the companies we work with by name, usually at their request; many smaller seed farmers just don’t have the personnel available to interact directly with the public, which is why they grow for the seed industry. As a company, we strive to provide the highest-quality seeds we can. We intend to provide only reliable varieties that you can trust, and we have third-party seed analysis labs confirm the germination rates on all of our seed lots to ensure that our customers will succeed with our seeds.
But this means we cannot promise that we won’t sell seeds from a specific country in the future. After all, some patented varieties can only come from their original breeder or patent holder. If our customers ask for specific patented varieties, we often must work directly with their source, no matter where they’re located; otherwise, we can’t get the seeds our customers are asking for.
We realize this may mean you won’t purchase from us, and we’re very sorry about that. But we do hope you understand the position that we’re in; it all comes down to ensuring we can provide quality seeds of the varieties our customers have requested.
Keep on Growing 🌻
Lorin Nielsen
Head Horticulturist, Senior Botanical Editor & Content Strategist
Want to sign up for our weekly email newsletter? Sign up HERE.
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Thanks for sharing what you learned, Sarah.
So I won't be ordering from them anymore. I need a guarantee they don't buy genocide seeds
I got that exact same email. Let’s keep up the pressure . Thank you Sarah.
I told them I'd be sending their info to the BDS apps.
Perfect
All you have to do is research the actual seeds you want and see if they originate or are bred in Israel.
(I posted a comment but not sure it went through or not!). Anyway, I'm part of a group based in the UK who are hoping to do the same and campaign once we have the info. We're only just at the point of sending out the letters to all the companies. Just wanted to say that I was so happy to find your post. We hadn't realised there were any campaigns around Israeli seeds, so this is such encouraging news!
Please keep us posted on your work. Thank you!
Seconding Mary's comment I do have readers in the UK and would love to share what you find. Thanks for doing this important research!
I am waiting for three more seed companies to confirm
Adding to my earlier comment, we have seen some moves around some independent UK florists trying not to source Israeli-grown flowers.
Hi Disha, This is new to me and if it is true, which I’m not convinced it is, it is only because of pressure. Fedco has not put out any public statements saying they will end purchasing Israeli seed. If you have seen a statement made publicly, please share. As you can see by some of the responses from other seed companies, there are those who have clearly and publicly renounced support of seed from stolen Palestinian land (Israeli seed). I will email Fedco, again.
**UPDATE ON FEDCO**
hi there as a farmer I appreciate you putting this to our attention
I’d also like to clarify some of the information being shared here about FEDCO. I have friends who work there & this is what they directly shared with me “We didn’t purchase from any Israeli seed companies this year and don’t plan to again. We are still selling some varieties that we purchased from Genesis, an Israeli company, prior to Oct 7 2023”
they also said you could call or email Fedco for their exact response about this
Thanks for sharing their response. However, I didn't do the research on Fedco, my friend Mary Dunn did. She reports that they have consistently refused to pledge not to source seeds from Israel. And based on what you've posted, they are actively doing so.
Also, what is their point in pretending that brutalization and expulsion of Palestinians from their homes hasn't been going on since 1948? The wife of their founder is an ardent Zionist, and these are the kind of lies and half-truths I expect from ardent Zionists.
Excellent to know! Thanks very much for this information.
Thank you for posting this. Every year I look for a refresher on this!
These companies that use israel as a supplier need to be added to the Nothanks! boycott app! I think there is another one called Boycat.
Thank you for putting this together! Richters is a local company to me and to be honest it never occurred to me that Israel would be a supplier....
very importNt info, lisa. many thanks. lynn bradbury, lubec. am sharing.
Thanks, Lynn, for spreading the word from Lubec.
thank you so much. i ordered a bunch of stuff from Johnny's for my flower farm last fall. (for some reason I thought their seeds were all in-house).
They are a large customer of Israel based Genesis Seed.
thank you. i’m writing them a letter telling them i can no longer work with them for my farm.
Thank you. If they respond, please share.
I just came across this on Notes. Palestinian heirloom seeds. Not genocidal. https://viviensansour.com/Palestine-Heirloom
I love Truelove Seeds and Southern Exposure Seed exchange. I also love Wild Garden Seed, home of Frank Morton, famous breeder of lettuce and kale, amongst other things. All of their seed is organically grown on their farm, according to a statement on their website.