Seward Co-op is hosting a plant sale from Sunday, May 1 through Sunday, June 5. The sale will feature starters from Riverbend Farm. For some time, the co-op had been in search of additional opportunities through which to work with this values-oriented farm. Riverbend is a pioneer in organic seed saving, and they seek the best varieties of seeds that have been bred to withstand the ever-changing climate here in Minnesota. Stop in either of our store locations and browse our wide selection of starter plants available on our seasonal display tables.

Here are the starter plants Riverbend Farm is growing this season. You will see many of these plants in our stores during the sale. Below, is everything you need to know about the seeds used in growing the starter plants to make an informed decision.

Organic – certified organically grown seeds

Non-organic – Seed not certified organic, but plants raised organically

Organic Hybrid – seeds from crosses of the same species produced under organic conditions

Non-organic Hybrid– seeds from crosses of the same species produced under non-organic conditions (these are used only when organic seed is unavailable)

Open Pollinated (OP) – seeds from plants of the same species and the same variety that reproduce the original variety

Locally Produced Open Pollinated – OP seeds that are produced within about 15 miles from here. All locally produced seeds cannot be produced in one location.

Locally Adapted and Produced Open Pollinated – Some OP seed is produced in areas that have a climate that is nothing like ours or may have been produced in an industrial organic system.

Aji Crystal Pepper, Open Pollinated
Aji Dulce Pepper, Locally Adapted and Produced Open Pollinated (organic)
Alma Pepper, Open Pollinated
Amadeus Broccoli, Organic Hybrid
Amber Tomato, Locallly Produced Open Pollinated (organic)
Amish Paste Tomato, Locallly Produced Open Pollinated (organic)
Beatrice Eggplant, Non-organic
Black Krim Tomato, Organic
Blue Solaise Leek, Open Pollinated (organic)
Blush Tomato, Locallly Produced Open Pollinated (organic)
Boldog Pepper, Open Pollinated (Organic)
Brandywine Tomato, Locallly Produced Open Pollinated (organic)
Calabrese Broccoli, Open Pollinated (organic)
California Yellow Bell Pepper, Open Pollinated (organic)
Carmen Pepper, Organic Hybrid
Champion Collards, Locally Adapted and Produced Open Pollinated (organic)
Chef’s Choice Tomato, Open Pollinated (Organic)
Cherokee Purple Tomato, Locallly Produced Open Pollinated (organic)
Chianti Rose Tomato, Locallly Produced Open Pollinated (organic)
Cippolini Onion, Open Pollinated
Cocozelle Zucchini, Organic Hybrid
Columbia Cabbage, Locally Adapted and Produced Open Pollinated (organic)
Cyril’s Choice Tomato, Open Pollinated (Organic)
Early Early Gal Tomato, Organic
Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage, Locally Adapted and Produced Open Pollinated (organic)
Early Purple Vienna Kohlrabi, Open Pollinated (Organic)
Emiko Napa Cabbage, Organic Hybrid
Evergreen Tomato, Organic
Fehezeron Pepper, Locally Adapted and Produced Open Pollinated (organic)
Festiva Broccoli, Organic Hybrid
Fresno Pepper, Open Pollinated
Goldy Zucchini, Organic Hybrid
Goodman Cauliflower, Open Pollinated (organic)
Granadero Tomato, Organic Hybrid
Gypsy Queen Pepper, Locally Adapted and Produced Open Pollinated (organic)
Habanero Pepper, Open Pollinated
Hinkelhatz Pepper, Locallly Produced Open Pollinated (organic)
Jalapeno Pepper, Non-organic
Kim Chi Pepper, Open Pollinated (Organic)
King of the North Pepper, Locallly Produced Open Pollinated (organic)
Kossak Kohlrabi, Open Pollinated (organic)
Lacinato Kale, Locally Adapted and Produced Open Pollinated (organic)
Lime Green Salad Tomato, Open Pollinated (Organic)
Lipstick Pepper, Locally Adapted and Produced Open Pollinated (organic)
Listada di Gandia Eggplant, Non-Organic, Open Pollinated
Lunchbox Pepper, Open Pollinated (Organic)
Marketmore 76 Cucumber, Open Pollinated (organic)
Martian Giant Tomato, Locally Adapted and Produced Open Pollinated (organic)
Moonglow Tomato, Open Pollinated (Organic)
Muskovich Tomato, Organic
Mutable Zucchini, Open Pollinated (Organic)
Nash’s Green Kale, Open Pollinated (organic)
Olympus Pepper, Organic Hybrid
Orient Express Eggplant, Non-organic
Otto Creek Ground Cherry, Locally Adapted and Produced Open Pollinated (organic)
Pablano Pepper, Open Pollinated (organic)
Parade Onion, Open Pollinated (organic)
Paul Robeson Tomato, Organic
Peron Sprayless Tomato, Locally Adapted and Produced Open Pollinated (organic)
Persimmon Tomato, Organic
Pineapple Tomato, Organic
Prudens Purple Tomato, Organic
Pure White Eggplant, Open Pollinated (Organic)
Purple Tomatillo, Locally Adapted and Produced Open Pollinated (organic)
Putszakolsa Tomato, Locallly Produced Open Pollinated (organic)
Rainbow Lacinato Kale, Locally Adapted and Produced Open Pollinated (organic)
Raven Zucchini, Organic Hybrid
Red Ace Beets, Organic Hybrid
Red Chard, Open Pollinated (organic)
Red Russian Kale, Locally Adapted and Produced Open Pollinated (organic)
Redwing Onion, Organic Hybrid
Rose Tomato, Organic
Serrano Pepper, Non-organic
Shallot Organic, Hybrid
Silver Slicer Cucumber, Open Pollinated (organic)
Skywalker Cauliflower, Organic Hybrid
Sungold Cherry tomato, Non-organic hybrid
Sungreen Cherry Tomato, Open Pollinated (Organic)
Talon Onion, Organic Hybrid
Traviata Eggplant, Organic Hybrid
Trinidad Spice Pepper, Locally Adapted and Produced Open Pollinated (organic)
Uncle Everett Tomato, Organic
Valencia Onion, Organic
Valencia Tomato, Organic

Click here for a description of the plants above.