Regional Seed Sourcing

There is a renaissance of small, independent companies focused on the heirloom varieties and needs of gardens in the Upper Midwest. Here are some favorites that are farm-based, meaning they grow many, if not most, of the seeds they offer:

Nature and Nurture Seeds

Ann Arbor, MI

Excellent Midwest and Wisconsin heirloom collections.

North Circle Seeds

Vergas, MN

Unique varieties selected for short northern growing seasons.

Ann Arbor Seed Company

Ann Arbor, MI

Part of the no-till, majority women-owned Green Things Farm Collective.

Cultivating the Commons

Amory, WI

Varieties selected in Wisconsin for productivity, storage, disease-resistance and flavor.

Prairie Road Organic Seeds

Fullerton, ND

Good for our short season, but mostly selected for drier climates.

The following companies are not expressly focused on our region, but are important to our seed system:

Buffalo Seed Company

Farm-based company outside Kansas City with unique offerings. Their bioregionally adapted seeds are better suited to longer, drier growing seasons.

Seed Savers Exchange

Famed heirloom seed bank with an international focus based in Decorah, IA. Some seed is produced regionally, but they mostly buy from other regions.

Jung Seeds

One of the last surviving historical Wisconsin seed companies with an extensive catalog, and the only one on this list that carries hybrids. They mostly buy seed from other regions but are based in Randolph, WI.

There are other great regional seed companies we didn’t have room for—who is your favorite? Tell us about them and tag @ediblemadison and we’ll give them a shout-out!