100 Suppliers Strong: Where our Seed $ Go

We spent $318,300 on seed in 2007-8.
• $74,100, or 23.3% (up from about 10% ten years ago), went to 51 small farmer/seed growers from 18 states. Oregon had the highest total, followed by Maine, Idaho and Maryland. 21 of those growers sold us $1,000 or more worth of seed. Beans were the most important crop followed by lettuce, squash, tomatoes, corn and greens.
• $132,000, or 41.5%, went to 32 United States suppliers including retail and wholesale seed companies.
• $112,200, or 35.2%, went to 24 overseas suppliers from 10 countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, including multinational corporations and foreign corporations with U.S. offices.

Thanks to reporter Jo Josephson whose questions inspired this research.

We need more seed growers, particularly for onions, squash and corn. As we have never intended to be the primary producer for all the varieties we offer, we also need more wholesalers to grow open-pollinated crops or produce certified-organic hybrids.

Fedco Seeds, PO Box 520, Waterville, ME 04903
(207) 873-7333 or (207) 430-1106

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