Q. What is your company name, product, and brief origin story?
A. At West Coast Seeds, organic growing is at the heart of who we are. We offer a wide range of organic seeds, as well as organic live goods like seed potatoes and garlic. We were founded in Vancouver, BC, in 1983 with one simple goal: to provide high-quality seeds and support organic gardening and farming. From the very start, we've been committed to offering products that help gardeners and farmers grow sustainably and with care for the environment.
Q. Why is being certified organic important to you?
A. Being certified organic is something we're really proud of. It means we can handle and distribute organic seeds and be an active part of the organic growing movement. We're always looking to offer more organic options for our customers, and when they choose organic seeds, it shows there's a real demand -- helping in turn to support those who grow and produce them.
Our trial farm is certified organic to ensure that every variety we carry can be successfully grown in an organic ecosystem. It's a promise to our farm and garden customers that what we offer is tried and true. For us, organic growing is all about working in harmony with the earth - building the soil, supporting pollinators, and following practices that help protect our planet for future generations.
Q. What specific questions did you have when learning about organic certification?
A. One of the main questions we had was which seeds can and can't be sold as organic in Canada under COR. Unlike the NOP, only seeds for food production can be certified, which means many flower seeds aren't eligible for organic certification.
Q. If someone you know is thinking of certifying organic, what advice would you offer?
A. It's a great idea! There is strength in numbers, and whether you're a farm or a processor, organic operations are crucial for driving funding and research into the organic sector.
Be sure to read through the organic standards and check out the Organic Federation of Canada's Q&A for any extra clarification. And most importantly, make sure you have good traceability from the start - it's key to a smooth certification process.
Q. Why did you choose PACS as your certifying body?
A. We chose PACS because they're local to us and operate as a not-for-profit. They do their best to keep costs down, and they've always been very helpful whenever we have questions or need to make updates.
Q. What has been the most rewarding part of your organic journey?
A. The most rewarding part is working with our organic suppliers and customers, It's exciting to see new organic varieties being developed, especially those that address challenges like disease pressures, helping growers tackle problems naturally. And we love offering organic options to our customers. It's always a win when people choose organic!
