Being a seed producer

BigVanVader · January 18, 2017

This is something I have been curious about for awhile now. I know some of you here grow exclusively for seed production and I was curious if someone could cover the details on how to best go about looking into this (where to find good info besides here) and also how the pay system typically works. Price per pound of seeds or what? Thanks for any info.

ContainerTed · January 18, 2017

Those of us who sell seeds "by the packet" will decide how many packets to have available and then make sure we gather enough seeds. This can be difficult to determine, sometimes, and I just save as many as I can. Then we have to do germination tests to see if the seed is adequately viable. After that, we package them up and make them available at whatever price we determine for the quantity we offer in each packet.

I've seen a pound of seeds in one container before, but the way I market my seeds would have me still holding about 14 ounces after a few years. Big companies will take seed by the ounce or more if you can get a deal going with them. But, remember, they have a large customer base and many of them have been around for decades.

That add' up to a lot of competition out there, so don't quit your regular job just yet. I do it as a means to subsidize my hobby. When I grow a variety, I try to get about 1500 to 2500 seeds that I trust to be mature and viable. I eliminate all "small for a variety" seeds and all those with the black spots on the seeds. Experience has taught me that they don't germinate well if at all.

Lastly, my personal fetish is that I will not list for sale any variety I haven't grown and found to taste good. Last year, I had a couple that came close to missing the cut, but in the end, the taste was pretty good when the fruit was "fully" ripe.

Hope this helps. I'll answer any questions you might have. But, remember that I've only been in this for about a year.

BigVanVader · January 18, 2017

Wow thanks Ted! So you set the price yourself? Can you sell in bulk as well? Like 5 lbs of seeds or something? Do seed companies ever do contracs for a certain amount for a certain price?

I'm just looking at other ways to supplement my hobby as well. I made a little profit last year at the market but tbh it's a lot of work and if I can just break even on things like building a GH etc I would likely just produce seed instead or maybe just sell plants then focus on seed production. Year before last I had a great season and saved probably 5k ISPL seeds plus thousands more of other varieties.

My Foot Smells · January 18, 2017

I did some stuff for an organic medicinal seed vendor and helped with the operation. Has to be a labor of love, imo. It was run as a non-profit, so rich ppl were glad to donate to the cause, but once the recession hit and $$ dried up, the thing folded.

collecting seed was a pain and quality control was a nightmare. they used a walk-in freezer to store the seeds, but most didn't sell through **very expensive** marketing measures, and quickly became "outdated." Everyone wanted fresh seeds. running the walk-in was expensive by budget measures (++ 100$ monthly).

the best of intentions were laid to rest after about 7 years and these guys were "east coast educated," not a bunch of hillibillies like myself.

if you could make $500 from seed sales (profit) a year, I would consider it a success.

this group also did plant sells, which did amazingly well in the early spring. that can be profitable - (I would buy myself in support). wide ranging of specimens from house plants, flowers, vegetable, etc...

do you know any rich people who are willing to invest in such a venture??

**carolyn137** · January 18, 2017

Why don't you go to

https://awhaley.com/

That's Aaron Whaley,son of Kent who started SSE. Aaron took over for a while but it didn't work out for him so he and his family moved to WI and started his company. Why not make a contact and ask to speak to Aaron and tell him I sent you,I'm sure he remembers me,and tell him I keep forgetting to contact him to see how the family is doing.

On the home page go to seeds at the top,then tomatoes, and see what he is charging for bulk amounts.And ask him anything else you might want to know.

Linda Sapp at TGS also orders bulk and has used several seed producers in the past including Adam Glecker but he's steppped away from his website now.I do believe that she is now getting bulk stuff done by Aaron. Why not contact her, tell her I sent you and ask her if she is pleased with Aaron.

Other companies that buy tomato seeds in bulk usually have their own staff that do that.

And for anyone you talk to ask if it's feasible to do that, as in perhaps subcontracting to certain seed companies, actually you never indicated what your game plan is with respect to the seeds.

Hope tha thelps,

Carolyn

BigVanVader · January 18, 2017

Well the ideal set up would be to grow lots of one variety for seed saving/selling then have the rest of my garden for me. I don't want to go full time or try to make a killing, just try to make a grand or so to pay for all my yearly garden projects. Since I already process and save all my seeds I may as well try to make a bit from it. I will try to contact those people and thanks for the help Carolyn.

jtjmartin · January 18, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigVanVader

. . . saved probably 5k ISPL seeds plus thousands more of other varieties.

Wow! 5K ISPL seeds - is that what put the "Big" in BigVanVader?

Jeff

imp · January 18, 2017

I think Jere Gettle's company Baker Creek Seeds, subs out seed production on some things. Might check with them and see what they do now.

BigVanVader · January 18, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtjmartin

Wow! 5K ISPL seeds - is that what put the "Big" in BigVanVader?

Jeff

It's really easy if you have a lot of plants. I used all mine that year for processing so I would just fill up Mason jars with seeds and ferment them. By the end of the year I had accumulated thousands. It was a very good year so you can imagine 100 plants with great production making a bunch of seeds.

FarmerShawn · January 18, 2017

I have no experience in this, but I believe that High Mowing Seeds also subcontracts seed production. Might be worth a call to them. I know they produce a lot of their own seeds, but I am pretty sure they have a collection of "partners" who grow for seed for them. Their seeds are organic, so seed production would have to be certified as well, I expect.

rhines81 · January 18, 2017

I looked into this several weeks ago. The state of PA requires a yearly license for $25. Then you need to send 1000 seeds of each seed you are going to package. They give you their test results and you must label your packets with the results plus a bunch of other labeling requirements. This is just to sell within the State of PA. Each state would have their own rules that you would have to follow to sell in those states.

rhines81 · January 18, 2017

Oh yea. The germ. test results are only valid for 9 months and you would then need to repeat the process for each lot of seed.

Salsacharley · January 18, 2017

If you are growing multiple varieties you might have a cross pollination issue that would threaten the purity of the varieties you are marketing. Bagging blossoms would be another significant labor burden I wouldn't be looking forward to.

kurt · January 18, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigVanVader

This is something I have been curious about for awhile now. I know some of you here grow exclusively for seed production and I was curious if someone could cover the details on how to best go about looking into this (where to find good info besides here) and also how the pay system typically works. Price per pound of seeds or what? Thanks for any info.

Find a mater that taste like 80 year old single malt and I am down like 4(four)flat tires and a fifth underneath the seat.Just from last year below.

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...ght=kilo+seeds

BigVanVader · January 18, 2017

Lol, OK so I need to check laws first. The spark for this thought was seeing Rodger's set up in Little Mountain www.rodgersheirlooms.com
He was growing Akers WV at the time for Baker Creek and said he paid for his hobby that way. He didn't have but around 100 plants I'd guess so I was intrigued. I have ask him a few questions but over email it takes so long sometimes. I think I will just need to start at all the laws cause I'm not going to jump through hoops just to scrape a few hundred dollars out of it. Thanks for the replies all.

January 18, 2017	#1
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	Being a seed producer This is something I have been curious about for awhile now. I know some of you here grow exclusively for seed production and I was curious if someone could cover the details on how to best go about looking into this (where to find good info besides here) and also how the pay system typically works. Price per pound of seeds or what? Thanks for any info.

January 18, 2017	#2
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	Those of us who sell seeds "by the packet" will decide how many packets to have available and then make sure we gather enough seeds. This can be difficult to determine, sometimes, and I just save as many as I can. Then we have to do germination tests to see if the seed is adequately viable. After that, we package them up and make them available at whatever price we determine for the quantity we offer in each packet. I've seen a pound of seeds in one container before, but the way I market my seeds would have me still holding about 14 ounces after a few years. Big companies will take seed by the ounce or more if you can get a deal going with them. But, remember, they have a large customer base and many of them have been around for decades. That add' up to a lot of competition out there, so don't quit your regular job just yet. I do it as a means to subsidize my hobby. When I grow a variety, I try to get about 1500 to 2500 seeds that I trust to be mature and viable. I eliminate all "small for a variety" seeds and all those with the black spots on the seeds. Experience has taught me that they don't germinate well if at all. Lastly, my personal fetish is that I will not list for sale any variety I haven't grown and found to taste good. Last year, I had a couple that came close to missing the cut, but in the end, the taste was pretty good when the fruit was "fully" ripe. Hope this helps. I'll answer any questions you might have. But, remember that I've only been in this for about a year. __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

January 18, 2017	#5
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Why don't you go to https://awhaley.com/ That's Aaron Whaley,son of Kent who started SSE. Aaron took over for a while but it didn't work out for him so he and his family moved to WI and started his company. Why not make a contact and ask to speak to Aaron and tell him I sent you,I'm sure he remembers me,and tell him I keep forgetting to contact him to see how the family is doing. On the home page go to seeds at the top,then tomatoes, and see what he is charging for bulk amounts.And ask him anything else you might want to know. Linda Sapp at TGS also orders bulk and has used several seed producers in the past including Adam Glecker but he's steppped away from his website now.I do believe that she is now getting bulk stuff done by Aaron. Why not contact her, tell her I sent you and ask her if she is pleased with Aaron. Other companies that buy tomato seeds in bulk usually have their own staff that do that. And for anyone you talk to ask if it's feasible to do that, as in perhaps subcontracting to certain seed companies, actually you never indicated what your game plan is with respect to the seeds. Hope tha thelps, Carolyn __________________ Carolyn

January 18, 2017	#10
FarmerShawn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,001	I have no experience in this, but I believe that High Mowing Seeds also subcontracts seed production. Might be worth a call to them. I know they produce a lot of their own seeds, but I am pretty sure they have a collection of "partners" who grow for seed for them. Their seeds are organic, so seed production would have to be certified as well, I expect. __________________ "Red meat is NOT bad for you. Now blue-green meat, THAT'S bad for you!" -- Tommy Smothers

January 18, 2017	#4
My Foot Smells Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Pulaski County, Arkansas Posts: 1,239	I did some stuff for an organic medicinal seed vendor and helped with the operation. Has to be a labor of love, imo. It was run as a non-profit, so rich ppl were glad to donate to the cause, but once the recession hit and $$ dried up, the thing folded. collecting seed was a pain and quality control was a nightmare. they used a walk-in freezer to store the seeds, but most didn't sell through very expensive marketing measures, and quickly became "outdated." Everyone wanted fresh seeds. running the walk-in was expensive by budget measures (++ 100$ monthly). the best of intentions were laid to rest after about 7 years and these guys were "east coast educated," not a bunch of hillibillies like myself. if you could make $500 from seed sales (profit) a year, I would consider it a success. this group also did plant sells, which did amazingly well in the early spring. that can be profitable - (I would buy myself in support). wide ranging of specimens from house plants, flowers, vegetable, etc... do you know any rich people who are willing to invest in such a venture??

January 18, 2017	#8
imp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 4,832	I think Jere Gettle's company Baker Creek Seeds, subs out seed production on some things. Might check with them and see what they do now.

January 18, 2017	#11
rhines81 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Zone 5A, Poconos Posts: 959	I looked into this several weeks ago. The state of PA requires a yearly license for $25. Then you need to send 1000 seeds of each seed you are going to package. They give you their test results and you must label your packets with the results plus a bunch of other labeling requirements. This is just to sell within the State of PA. Each state would have their own rules that you would have to follow to sell in those states.

January 18, 2017	#13
Salsacharley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Mexico Posts: 2,052	If you are growing multiple varieties you might have a cross pollination issue that would threaten the purity of the varieties you are marketing. Bagging blossoms would be another significant labor burden I wouldn't be looking forward to.