Rocky Mountain Seed Exchange

Project Leader: Dan Hobbs, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Greenwood Village, CO

Technical Advisor: Frank Stonaker, Specialty Crops Program Coordinator, Fort Collins, CO

Project Year: 2006

Proposal Summary

There is a pronounced absence of certified organic vegetable seeds in the United States and there is no easily located source of locally adapted organic vegetable seeds in Colorado. The goal of this project is to develop a seed producer's organization that will supply both national and local markets with high-quality, open-pollinated vegetable seeds. Additionally, the organization will maintain its own research functions and educational and charitable activities.

In 2006, the project partners plan to complete the business plan, set up the organization, obtain wholesale seed contracts, conduct variety trials and other seed-related research, establish central seed cleaning and storage facility, study the feasibility of local retail seed sales, develop an educational and charitable program, conduct one seed-saving workshop, and perform outreach to Colorado producers.