I'm glad we have so many choices here in the USA. Most of the seeds here are likely grown far away from me so it mainly involves selection of varieties, price, and past satisfaction of that dealer.

Also, how many seed-houses actually grow out a significant percentage of the seed that they sell? I imagine 50% would be a lot. I think variety choice is the main factor, even if the parent plant was grown out in a climate somewhat different from yours. If you know that particular variety is well-adapted to your climate then where the parent-plant was grown shouldn't matter too much.

The fact that all seed-stock for the florida winter potato industry is grown in northern new england and canada is a case in point.

The one thought that came to mind is that with shipping 1200 miles, there's more opportunity for things to go wrong on route. Upon shipping, seeds might be held up in warehouses or on the back of trucks with no air conditioning or humidity controls. Company B might not be any better than Company A, but shipping methods might be a factor.

One thought: Choosing regionally grown seed is akin to buying local (sort of like going to the local farmers' market) -- supporting businesses close to home that grow crops that are best suited to your region's climate and zone (as you noted). Nearby by seed companies are likely testing and growing plants in gardens or fields similar to yours -- so it would seem there is a definite adavantage.

If you grew open-pollinated seed from a local or regional seed company then you could collect that seed and grow it again next year -- cutting the cost of seed next year -- and having a crop that does well in your region.

(Another argument for regional seed is the reduction in transport miles -- expenditure of fuel to get the seed to your garden.)

Here is a link that might be useful: HarvestToTable.com

Most vegetable and flower seed is likely grown hundreds and thousands of miles away these days...California, Japan, Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico, Netherlands, Mexico, and Brazil.

Shipping light weight boxes by postal mail is not likely a big item either.

Albert, regarding your recommendation, seed outfits are so far apart in relation to the variation of micro-climate that the odds of being able to find commercially marketed seed that was grown in precisely one's climate is unlikely. For example, one of the closest to me - Johnny's Seeds - is in an extremely different climate; mine is firmly mid-atlantic, theirs is quite northern new england. Southern Exposure grows plants more adapted as they are mid-atlantic even though much further away.

All of which is a strong argument for saving as much seed from plants in one's own garden as possible.........

A surprising amount of vegetable seed sold here is now produced in China. Including seeds (Sungold tomato) purchased from Johnny's last year. Shallot seed from Holland as well. I think any company that sells a large assortment probably has world wide seed sourcing. Johnny's, of course, does their on squash hybrids and other varieties as well.

I'd guess that unless the company specifically says that they produce the seed locally, I wouldn't count on it.

World wide, the biggest seed producers/sellers are :

Here is a link that might be useful: the usual suspects.

That hadn't occured to me, about shipping...

I got this idea in my head, about local seed being better, from that one year when seed company A proved a disappointment, and from reading a while ago that garlic needs to be adapted to the environment it's planted in, for best results. I did notice a few seed packets from company B said product of Netherlands or France, but thought they were exceptions.

On the other hand, both A and B say their seeds are field-trialed and it makes sense to buy seed from companies "likely testing and growing plants in gardens or fields similar to yours", ie what grows best in PEI (Veseys seed) should do better here in northern Nova Scotia than what grows well in Ontario. As far as variety is concerned.

Wayne, if you want a wide choice of hybrid, heirloom, open-pollinated and organic varieties, plus garlic and tubers, all from one company, doesn't that mean you have to support one of the big ones? It does here. I could get most of the seeds I want from PEI but the Ontario co. has all sorts of great heirloom tomatoes, and a third company, a small one in New Brunswick, offers all blue and pink fir fingerling potatoes. How to dodge all those shipping charges.

Saving seed would help, for sure. The mere thought of adding that to our chores is tiring, though.

Monsanto, Syngenta - such poetic names for such monsters.

Seed save is not a big chore. The 15-20 mins. is not a big deal sense seeds can stay viable for three years or more.

As some have mentioned WHAT you buy is more important in its ability to thrive then WHERE you buy it from. Either the plant will be genetically able to hack it (with your help of course) or not.
Also, many, if not most, seed companies buy their seeds from suppliers who contract with farmers or grow in their own fields. SMR 58 cukes and Brandywine Tomatoes (just examples) from mail order company A are very likely to have come from the same source even if you buy them from company B a thousand miles away. Here in the US big seed producing areas include CA, OR, WA, ID and CO. Other states produce seed also, but those states are among the biggies.

Fortunately, the clonal stuff that reportedly can micro-adapt like potatoes and garlic - are very easy to save. If you are really lazy like me, and don't really care about large cloves, you just leave the garlic in the ground and use it as green garlic mostly. Self-seeding stuff is close to effortless, less work than re-planting bought seed every year in fact. Of course, that means mechanized tilling is out. One plants and fertilizes here and there around the self-seeded and re-sprouted stuff.......

Maybe we grow too many types of vegetables to offer our customers, for our single acre of soil. It does make seed saving a chore - partly because of the booklearning it involves re each vegetable's seeding habit, harvest time etc. We're hoping to get help this summer though.

Potato varieties are always a one-time expense for us. We need to get ahead with the garlic, though, so we stop running out every spring.

There's a new seed company in NB that gets seed grown by local farmers. I've ordered some new interesting potatoes from them (not cheap - holy eff). They don't offer many of my favourite varieties.

Here is a link that might be useful: hope seeds

Favourite varieties of other seed, that is.