Progressive Seed Companies
and Take Caution when Importing Seed
As we start to think about ordering seeds, we need to take care about where we place those orders. And there are two factors I'm thinking about: ordering seeds internationally and ordering from growers with links to the far-right.
Buying Seeds Internationally
Let's tackle the easier one first: international orders. With Etsy, Amazon, and other marketplaces open to selling seeds, ordering seeds from overseas has become very easy. But there are some huge cautions here! In order to keep out invasive plants and other horticultural problems, you need to go through the proper procedures before you place your order which means registering to import seeds and making sure your package is inspected before it gets to you.
Unfortunately, the onus is on you, the consumer – not on the seller or the marketplace.
And here are just a few of the problems: Some sellers package seeds incorrectly. Others include weed seeds including noxious weeds or plants that haven't been introduced to our ecosystems yet (think future BIG problems). And others are just scams.
Frankly, since we have enough problems with invasive species, I don't think it is worth the risk with anyone but a reputable seed brand. And even then, make sure your paperwork is done properly.
To learn more about importing seeds (because that's what you are doing here), check out the most up-to-date regulations at the USDA website here. And to learn more about becoming an importer and the regulations that pertain to each overseas order you make, visit the USDA page about regulations here.
Seed Companies with Alt-Right Ties
So, now, let's talk about seed sources closer to home. There are seed companies big and small with ties to the far-right, ultra conservative agendas. They have anti-LGBTQ policies, ties to militia groups, racist views, and other troubling links.
The most notable offender is Baker Creek Seeds. In 2019 this Missouri company planned an event at which Cliven Bundy, noted anti-government activist and far-right militant, would be the keynote speaker. They canceled the appearance after outcry from their community, but they subsequently had Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speak at their Spring Festival in 2020. Both events brought into focus the far-right leanings of the Baker Creek corporate leadership and their far-from-mainstream politics. Additionally, their catalogues have been criticized for using racial stereotypes in their photography and marketing amongst other problems.
Baker Creek isn't the only seed company with problematic views, to be honest. But they are the biggest. In some cases the smaller growers and sellers are an example of the Crunchy-to-Alt-Right Pipeline as laid out by Kathleen Belew a few years ago. Belew is an expert on the White Power movement, and her insights are shocking. The wellness industry and "pure food" culture tend to go hand-in-hand with gardening, unfortunately, and our gardening world is not clean in all of this — at all.
So before you make a seed purchase, I urge you to consider where your money will be going. We don't want to support problematic companies or individuals – even for a $5 seed packet.
What are some reputable sources for seeds? There have been several Threads on this topic (including this one) in the last few months, and this is what I have gleaned:
Check the thread for more, too! I didn't include them all. A note: I have purchased from some of these sellers in the past, but not all of them. As for the politics, I have to take the word of others who know these companies better.
If you know of other great progressive seed companies, drop them below! We are all in this together, and we can help to keep each other informed!
Happy Gardening!
Angela