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Organic Seed Resources

 National Organic Program (NOP) Seed Rules | Organic Seed Lists | Organic Seed Suppliers

National Organic Program (NOP) Seed and Planting Stock Regulations

The National Organic Program rules stipulate that organic seeds MUST be used in organic production when commercially available. This includes annual, perennial, and cover crops. Commercial availability is defined by the NOP as "the ability to obtain a production input in an appropriate form, quality, and quantity to fulfill an essential function in a system of organic production or handling, as determined by the certifying agent in the course of reviewing the organic plan".

Organic seeds MUST be used to produce organic sprouts. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Document your search for organic seed and planting stock. Organic producers are required to provide ongoing evidence of active attempts to source organic seeds and/or planting stock such as logs showing calls made, product/supplier catalogues, letters received, or other demonstrations of good faith efforts. Such evidence must also be provided in the event that organic seed or planting stock does not provide the necessary level of quality or provide the desired function. CCOF strictly reviews this process annually to maintain the integrity of organic food production and to encourage our members to actively search for organic seeds.

Growers must verify that third parties, who provide nonorganic seed or planting stock, have searched for organic seed. CCOF must be able to verify that a commercial availability search was conducted for all nonorganic seed or planting stock. If a buyer provides you with nonorganic seed or planting stock you must obtain documentation from the buyer that demonstrates a search for organic seed or planting stock was conducted. Examples of this documentation include call logs, seed catalogues, or statements from seed suppliers. Your inspector will ask for this information at all inspections.

Test/trial organic seed to find seed with the characteristics and qualities you need. If growers cannot find specific organic seed in the quality or quantity they require then trialing other organic varieties should be considered. First identify the qualities that are sought in organic seed. For example: disease resistance, drought tolerance, hybrid uniformity, size, color, flavor or any other market or grower preferences. Then seek out organic varieties that are available and conduct trials to see if the organic seed can meet your needs.

Any non organic seeds used must be Non-GMO and untreated or Non-GMO and treated only with substances listed as allowed on the National List. Seeds treated with prohibited materials are NOT allowed in organic production. If you plan to use seed that is treated, coated, inoculated or pelletized with any substance you must confirm that the substance in use is approved.

Annual transplant stock MUST be certified organic. Growers purchasing annual transplants must maintain current NOP certificates from suppliers and have purchase invoices showing the transplants purchased are organic. These documents will be reviewed annually at your inspection.

Non organic planting stock to be sold again as planting stock (not a crop) must be managed organically for one year prior to sale as organic. Growers are required to show records demonstrating that the planting stock was managed organically for one year and that it was not sold as organic until the eligibility date was met, with the exception of crops harvested from the plant. Such records include: planting stock purchase receipts, planting records, input application records, input invoices, harvest records and sales records. These records will be reviewed at all inspections.

Certified organic growers are required to utilize organic seed unless organic versions are commercially unavailable.

Commercial availability means the ability to obtain seeds in an appropriate form, quality, or quantity to fulfill an essential function in a system of organic production, and is determined by CCOF in the course of reviewing the Organic System Plan.

If organic seeds are not commercially available, non-organic seeds are allowed only if they are non-GMO, and either untreated or treated ONLY with allowed substances.

CCOF certified operations are required to demonstrate good faith attempts to source organic versions prior to utilizing non-organic seed. This documentation may be in the form of a log showing calls made, product/supplier catalogues, letters received, or other efforts on your part.

Organic Seed Lists

Organic seeds can be sourced using the following lists:

University of California Organic Farming Compliance Handbook - Seed Sources

Montana Department of Agriculture Organic Seed Resources
 

Organic Seed Supply Companies

Abundant Life Seeds

P.O. Box 157
Saginaw, OR 97472
Phone: (541) 767-9606

 

Albert Lea Seed House

P.O. Box 127
Albert Lea, MN 56007
Phone: 1 (800) 352-5247

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

2278 Baker Creek Road
Mansfield, MO 65704
Phone: (417) 924-8917
Fax: (417) 924-8887

Blue River Hybrids

27087 Timber Road
Kelley, IA 50134
Phone: (800) 370-7979
Fax: (515) 233-3069

Botanical Interests Inc.

660 Compton Street
Broomfield, CO 80020
Phone: 1 (800) 486-2647

Bountiful Gardens

18001 Shafer Ranch Road
Willits, CA 95490
Phone: (707) 459-6410
Fax: (707) 459-1925

CCOF Certified Organic

BURPEE

300 Park Avenue
Warminster, PA 18974
Phone: 1 (800) 888-1447
Fax: 1 (800) 333-5808

California Seed Production, Inc.

P.O. Box 848
Gilroy, CA 95021
Phone: (408) 427-6805
robert@calseed.com

CCOF Certified Organic

Christie Farms

38165 Richardson Gap Road
Scio, OR 97374-9756
Phone: (503) 394-3192
Fax: (503) 394-2631

The Cooks Garden

P.O. Box C5030
Warminster, PA 18974-0574
Phone: 1 (800) 457-9703

Cutter Asparagus Seed

516 Young Ave
Arbuckle, CA 95912
Phone: (888) 391-3647

CCOF Certified Organic

DLF International Seeds

175 W. H Street
Halsey, OR 97348
Phone: (800) 445-2251

Doebler's PA Hybrids Inc.

202 Tiadaghton Avenue
Jersey Shore, PA 17740
Phone: (570) 753-3210
Fax: (570) 753-5302

Ebbesson Farms

3165 Anella Ave
Fairbanks, AK 99709
Phone: (907) 497-0440
Fax: (907) 452-7783

Eckhart Seed Company

P.O. Box 7176
Speckles, CA 93962
Phone: (831) 758-0925

CCOF Certified Organic

Environmental Seed Producers

P.O. Box 2709
Lompoc, CA 93438
Phone: (805) 735-8888

CCOF Certified Organic
Ferry-Morse Seed Company
600 Stephen Beale Dr.
Fulton, KY 42041
Phone: (270) 472-3400

CCOF Certified Organic

Filaree Farm

182 Conconully Hwy
Okanogan, WA 98840
Phone: (509) 422-6940

Fred C. Gloeckner & Company Inc.

600 Mamaroneck Avenue
Harrison, NY 10528-1631
Phone: 1 (800) 345-3787
Fax: (914) 698-0848

Gardens Alive

5100 Schenley Place
Lawrenceburg, IA 47025
Phone: (513) 354-1482

Great Harvest Organics

6803 East 276th Street
Atlanta, IN 46031
Phone: (317) 984-6685
Fax: (317) 984-2364

Harmony Farm Supply

3244 Highway 116 North
Sebastopol, CA 95472
Phone: (707) 823-9125

CCOF Certified Organic

Harris Seeds

355 Paul Road
Rochester, NY 14624-0966
Phone: 1 (800) 544-7938

 

Headstart Nursery

4860 Monterey Road
Gilroy, CA 95020
Phone: (408) 842-3030

CCOF Certified Organic

Hermosa Valley Garden Seeds

P.O. Box 1409
Santa Maria, CA 93456
Phone: (877) 834-7333
Fax: (805) 925-4140

 
High Mowing Organic Seeds
76 Quarry Rd.
Wolcott, VT 05680
Phone: (802) 472-6174
CCOF Supporting Member

Hood River Garlic

P.O. Box 1701
Hood River, OR 97031
Phone: (541) 386-1220

Horizon Herbs LLC

P.O. Box 69
Williams, OR 97544
Phone: (541) 846-6704
Fax: (541) 846-6233

Irish Eyes Inc.

P.O. Box 204
Thorp, WA 98946
Phone: 1 (800) 964-9210

Jacobsen Orchards

22 Tallent Lane
Yountville, CA 94599
Phone: (707) 944-1279

CCOF Certified Organic

J.L. Hudson, Seedsman

P.O. Box 337
La Honda, CA 94020-9733
Email: inquiry@jlhudsonseeds.net

Johnny's Selected Seeds
955 Benton Ave.
Winslow, ME 04901
Phone: (877) 564-6697

CCOF Supporting Member

Keithly-Williams

268 Commission St.
Salinas, CA 93901
Phone: (831) 424-3971

CCOF Certified Organic

King's Agriseed LLC

96 Paradise Lane
Ronks, PA 17572
Phone: (717) 687-6224

Kitazawa

P.O. Box 13220
Oakland, CA 94661-3220
Phone: (510) 595-1198
Fax: (510) 595-1860

L.A Hearne Company

512 Metz Rd.
King City, CA 93930
Phone: (831) 385-5441

CCOF Certified Organic

Lakeview Organic Grain

P.O Box 361
Penn Yan, NY 14527
Phone/Fax: (315) 531-1038

Lancaster Agriculture Products

60 N Ronks Road
Ronks, PA 17572
Phone: (717) 687-9222
Fax: (717) 687-9355

Lawler Farm Center

206 S Lincoln St
Lawler, IA 52154
Phone: 1 (800) 352-5247

Lockwood Seed and Grain
26777 Chowchilla Blvd
Chowchilla, CA 93610
Phone: (559) 665-5702

CCOF Certified Organic

Lonesome Whistle Farm

2241 River Loop #1
Eugene, OR 97404
Phone: (541) 345-3415

Lone Willow Ranch
11356 Road 5 ½
Firebaugh, CA 93622
Phone: (559) 694-0017
CCOF Certified Organic

The Maine Potato Lady

P.O. Box 65
Guilford, ME 04443
Phone: (207) 343-2270

Masters Choice

3010 St. Rt. 146 E
Anna, IL 62906
Phone: (866) 444-1044

Meadow Creek Enterprise

130 North Ave., P.O. Box 445
Dickeyville, WI 53808
Phone: 608-586-7564

Mountain Valley Growers

38325 Pepperwood Road
Squaw Valley, CA 93675
Phone: (559) 338-2775
Fax: (559) 338-0075

Natural Gardening Company
P.O. Box 750776
Petaluma, CA 94975
Phone: (707) 766-9303
CCOF Certified Organic

Nichols Garden Nursery

1190 Old Salem Rd NE
Albany, OR 97321
Phone: (800) 422-3985
Fax: (800) 231-5306

North American Seed Company, Inc.

41801 Espinosa Road
Greenfield, CA 93927

Phone: (831) 674-3037

CCOF Certified Organic

Omega Seed

P.O. Box 167
Glenn, CA 95943
Phone: (530) 934-5149

CCOF Certified Organic

Osborne Seed Company, LLC

2428 Old Highway 99
South Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Phone: (360) 424-7333

CCOF Supporting Member

Pacific Botanicals LLC

4840 Fish Hatchery Rd
Grants Pass, OR 97527
Phone: (541) 479-7777
Fax: (541) 479-7780

Park Seed Company

1 Parkton Avenue
Greenwood, SC 29647
Phone: 1 (800) 845-3369

Peaceful Valley Farm Supply
125 Clydesdale Ct.
Grass Valley, CA 95945
Phone: (888) 784-1722
CCOF Certified Organic

Praying Mantis Farm

32263 S Kropf Rd
Canby, OR 97013
Phone: (503) 651-2627

Pybas Vegetable Seed Company

P.O. Box 868
Santa Maria, CA 93456
Phone: (805) 922-4624

CCOF Certified Organic

Rancho Purisima Farms

P.O. Box 5096
Santa Maria, CA 93456
Phone: (805) 922-7414
Email: purisima@mindspring.com

CCOF Certified Organic

Redwood City Seed Co.

P.O. Box 361
Redwood City, CA 94064
Phone: (650) 325-7333
Fax: (650) 325-4056

Redwood Organic Farm

P.O. Box 431
Manton, CA 96059
Phone: (530) 524-5537

CCOF Certified Organic

Rohrer Seeds

2472 Old Philadelphia Pike
Smoketown, PA 17576
Phone: (717) 299-2571
Fax: (800) 468-4944

Ronniger Potato Farm LLC

20094 N. State Hwy. 149
Powderhorn, CO 81243
Phone: (208) 267-7938

S & S Seeds dba Environmental Seed Producers

P.O. Box 947
Albany, CA 97321
Phone: (541) 928-5868

CCOF Certified Organic

Seed Savers Exchange

3094 North Winn Road
Decorah, IA 52101
Phone: (563) 382-5990
Fax (orders): (563) 382-6511
Fax (general): (563) 382-5872

Seed Dynamics, Inc.

P.O. Box 6069
Salinas, CA 93912
Phone: (831) 424-1177

Seeds By Design, Inc.

P.O. Box 602
Maxwell, CA 95955
Phone: (530) 934-8086

 
Seeds of Change
1364 Rufina Circle #5
Santa Fe, NM 97501
Phone: (888) 762-7333

 

CCOF Supporting Member

Seeds Trust

P.O. Box 4619
Ketchum, ID 83340
Phone: (208) 788-4363
Fax: (208) 788-3452

Seedway LLC

99 Industrial Rd
Elizabethtown, PA 17022
Phone: (800) 952-7333
Fax: (717) 367-0837

Shamrock Seed Company

3 Harris Place
Salinas, CA 93901
Phone: (831) 771-1500

CCOF Certified Organic

Siskiyou Seeds

3220 East Fork Rd.
Williams, OR 97544
Phone: (541) 846-9233

Snow Seed Company
21855 Rosehart Way
Salinas, CA 93908
Phone: (831) 758-9869
CCOF Certified Organic

Sourcepoint Organic Seeds

26422 Moss Road
Hotchkiss, CO 86419
Phone: (970) 872-4941

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange

P.O. Box 460
Mineral, VA 23117
Phone: (540) 894-9480
Fax: (540) 894-9481

Summerstone Nursery

P.O. Box 274
Morrison, TN 37357
Phone: (931) 668-7991
Fax: (931) 668-7992

Sunnyland Seeds

P.O. Box 385
Paradox, CO 81429
Phone: (970) 859-7248

Sustainable Seed Company

P.O. Box 636
Petaluma, CA 94952
Phone: (707) 703-1242

CCOF Certified Organic

Sweet Corn Organic Nursery

7030 Fir Drive
Show Low, AZ 85901
Phone: (928) 537-2676

Syngenta Lettuce Seed Company, Inc.

P.O. Box 868
Santa Maria, CA 93456
Phone: (805) 922-4624

CCOF Certified Organic

Terra Organics

P.O. Box 171
Maxwell, CA 95955
Phone: (530) 438-2126

CCOF Certified Organic

Territorial Seed Company

P.O. Box 158
Cottage Grove, OR 97424
Phone: (800) 626-0866
Fax: (888) 657-3131

Thunderfoot/Earthworks-Sow Organic Seeds

P.O. Box 527
Eugene, OR 97544
Phone: (888) 709-7333

TomatoFest Garden Seeds
P.O. Box 628
Little River, CA 95456
CCOF Certified Organic

Top Notch Seeds, Inc.

P.O. Box 4
Brawley, CA 92227
Phone: (760) 344-9700

CCOF Certified Organic

Upstream Natives, a division of Stalford Seed Farms

P.O. Box 268
Tangent, OR 97389
Phone: (541) 926-4611
Fax: (541) 926-5038

Uprising Seeds

2208 Iron St.
Bellingham, WA 98225
Phone: (360) 201-0468

Vitalis Organic Seeds

7 Harris Place
Salinas, CA 93901
Phone: (831) 262-7635

CCOF Supporting Member

Weaver Seed of Oregon

P.O. Box 67
Crabtree, OR
Phone: (541) 924-9701
Fax: (541) 924-9702

Welter Seed and Honey Company

17724 Hwy 136
Onslow, IA 52321
Phone: 1 (800) 470-3325

Wheatgrass Kits

1041 North 450 West
Springville, UT 84663
Phone: (801) 491-8700
Fax: (801) 491-8728

White Seed Company

P.O. Box 6108
Oxnard, CA 93031
Phone: (805) 983-4923
Fax: (805) 983-1282

CCOF Certified Organic

Wild Garden Seed

P.O. Box 1509
Philomath, OR 97379
Phone: (541) 929-4068

W-L Research

P.O. Box 8112
Madison, WI 53708-8112
Phone: (608) 295-3566

CCOF Supporting Member

Wood Prairie Farm

49 Kinney Road
Bridgewater, ME 04735
Phone: 1 (800) 829-9765
Fax: 1 (800) 300-6494

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Phone: (831) 423-2263  Fax: (831) 423-4528   Email: ccof@ccof.org