High Mowing Organic Seeds

What High Mowing Organic Seeds does

High Mowing Organic Seeds is an independently-owned, farm-based seed company headquartered in Wolcott, Vermont (Northeast Kingdom) that produces and distributes 100% certified organic and Non-GMO Project Verified vegetable, herb, flower, and cover-crop seeds. Founded in 1996 by Tom Stearns with 28 backyard varieties, the company now offers over 700 heirloom, open-pollinated, and hybrid varieties evaluated annually at a 6.5-acre trials farm in Hyde Park, Vermont, including exclusive organic production rights for proprietary genetics developed with academic and breeding partners such as the University of Wisconsin, Rutgers University, Organic Seed Alliance, Bejo Seeds, and Vitalis Organic Seeds.

The company's revenue is generated through three primary channels: direct-to-consumer e-commerce and catalog sales (highmowingseeds.com) targeting home gardeners; a regional field-sales force with dedicated account managers serving commercial vegetable growers across defined U.S. territories and Canada; and a wholesale seed-rack program supplying garden centers and co-ops. A smaller breeder-royalty stream (10% of sales on designated "BR" varieties) is paid back to independent breeders. Retail seed packets are priced $4–$22 with free shipping over $200 in the contiguous U.S.; commercial-grower contracts operate on multi-year wholesale pricing tiers. Operations run through the Wolcott headquarters and shipping facility plus the Hyde Park trials farm, supported by roughly 70 employees.

The business has been bootstrapped across its 27-year history with only ~$4.17M in disclosed outside funding across 2015, 2018, and 2020 rounds, funding a 2015 Hyde Park land acquisition and a 2020 long-term seed-storage infrastructure build following a pandemic-era demand surge. Andrea Tursini succeeded Tom Furber as CEO in March 2023 after serving as CMO, with founder Tom Stearns' original philosophy — varieties bred and trialled specifically for organic growing systems with robust genetics and flavor-first selection — continuing to anchor the company's positioning as the first U.S. seed company to hold dual full-catalog USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project Verification status.

Name

High Mowing Organic Seeds

Legal name

High Mowing Seed Company

Website

https://highmowingseeds.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

High Mowing Organic Seeds is a Vermont-based, independently-owned seed company that breeds, trials, and sells 700+ varieties of 100% certified organic, Non-GMO Project Verified vegetable, herb, flower, and cover-crop seeds to home gardeners, commercial growers, and garden retailers across the U.S. and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Seed Production

NAICS

Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production (1114), Vegetable and Melon Farming (11121)

SIC

Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply (5200), Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Organic Seed Production & Plant Breeding (Certified Organic Seed) (AFAGAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vegetable Seeds (Open-Pollinated & Hybrid) (AFABAFAE), Plant Breeding & Variety Development (Conventional) (AFAGAIAF), Foundation Seed Production (AFAGAIAA), Organic Floriculture & Nursery Crop Production (Ornamentals, Seedlings) (AFAGAKAJ)

Keywords

• Organic vegetable seeds
• Non-GMO seeds
• Cover crop seeds
• Herb and flower seeds
• Heirloom hybrid seeds

Headquarters

HQ city

Wolcott

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Direct Seed Sales: Retail seed sales through e-commerce website and catalog, selling vegetable, flower, herb seeds and growing supplies to home gardeners and small-scale growers. Products range from individual seed packets to bulk quantities.
2. Commercial Grower Sales: Direct sales force serving commercial vegetable growers across US and Canada with dedicated regional sales representatives, offering wholesale pricing and account management.
3. Seed Rack/Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale distribution through retail seed racks and garden centers across US and Canada, managed by dedicated wholesale sales managers.
4. Breeder Royalties: Revenue from exclusive production agreements with breeders, including 10% of sales paid to independent breeders of select varieties (BR designation). Exclusive organic seed production rights for varieties like Allure F1 and Who Gets Kissed Sweet Corn.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

High Mowing Organic Seeds develops, breeds and sells 100% certified organic, Non-GMO Project Verified vegetable, herb, flower and cover crop seeds — over 700 heirloom, open-pollinated and hybrid varieties — directly to home gardeners via e-commerce and catalog, and to commercial growers and retailers through a regional field sales force and wholesale seed rack program. The company runs a 6.5-acre variety trials farm in Vermont to evaluate varieties for organic-system performance, disease resistance and flavor before commercial release.

Product overview

High Mowing Organic Seeds is a single unified e-commerce platform offering certified organic and non-GMO seeds. The product portfolio consists of vegetable seeds (including 40+ categories such as tomatoes, peppers, corn, lettuce, and more), herb seeds, flower seeds, cover crops, growing supplies, and curated seed collections. The company offers over 700 heirloom, open-pollinated and hybrid varieties of vegetable, fruit, herb and flower seed. The platform enables customers to browse by category, create accounts, place orders, and access growing information. The company operates a trials farm in Hyde Park, Vermont where varieties are evaluated for performance in organic growing systems before being added to the catalog.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vegetable Seeds 100% certified organic, Non-GMO Project Verified vegetable seeds spanning 40+ crop categories (Artichoke, Beans, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Corn, Cucumbers, Kale, Lettuce, Peppers, Tomatoes, Watermelons and many more) for home gardeners and commercial organic growers.
• Herb Seeds 100% certified organic, Non-GMO Project Verified herb seeds for culinary and medicinal use, available to home gardeners and commercial growers.
• Flower Seeds Certified organic, Non-GMO Project Verified flower seeds for gardens and landscapes; varieties bred and trialed for organic growing conditions.
• Cover Crops Certified organic, Non-GMO Project Verified cover crop seeds used by commercial organic farmers and home gardeners for soil health, nitrogen fixation and sustainable crop rotations.
• Growing Supplies Garden accessories and growing supplies (pots, labels, etc.) sold alongside seeds through the e-commerce store and catalog.
• Curated Seed Collections Themed curated seed collections (e.g., Pizza Party Collection, Cool Weather Climate Collection, Warm Climate Grocery Collection, Chatty Neighbor Collection, Andrea's Procrastinator Favorites) that bundle complementary certified organic, non-GMO varieties for home gardeners.
• Seed Fundraiser Program Seed packet fundraiser program enabling schools, clubs and non-profit organizations to raise money by selling certified organic, non-GMO High Mowing seeds.
• Allure F1 Sweet Corn Bi-color synergistic sweet corn with long-lasting confectionary sweetness and excellent seedling vigor; exclusive organic seed produced in partnership with Seneca Vegetable Research.
• Who Gets Kissed Sweet Corn Open Source Seed Initiative-pledged organic sweet corn bred specifically for organic growers by Dr. Bill Tracy, Jared Zystro, Dr. Adrienne Shelton, Dr. John Navazio and Martin Diffley in collaboration with the Organic Seed Alliance; High Mowing is the exclusive producer of organic seed.
• Rutgers Devotion DMR Basil Aromatic Genovese-type basil with excellent downy mildew resistance developed by Rutgers University and KBC Specialty Seeds; protected by Utility Patent.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 seed packets donated annually to community gardens, school gardens, and food security programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Open Source Seed InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting open-source seed principles by releasing varieties under protected public commons, free for all to grow and breed with as they see fit. Includes Who Gets Kissed Sweet Corn developed with Organic Seed Alliance.
• Seneca Vegetable ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for exclusive organic seed production of Allure F1 Sweet Corn and other synergistic sweet corn varieties. Portion of sales paid to breeder.
• University of WisconsincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative development of My Fair Lady F1 Sweet Corn with Dr. William Tracy at University of Wisconsin. High Mowing is exclusive producer of organic seed.
• Organic Seed AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative breeding partner for Who Gets Kissed Sweet Corn, developed with Dr. Bill Tracy, Jared Zystro, Dr. Adrienne Shelton, Dr. John Navazio, and farmer Martin Diffley.
• Rutgers UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for development of Rutgers Devotion DMR Basil variety with Rutgers University and KBC Specialty Seeds for downy mildew resistant basil.
• Vitalis Organic SeedscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to continue organic productions of high performing lettuce varieties Encino and Lovelock, securing future of these organic seed options.
• Bejo SeedscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBreeding partner providing varieties including Climber F1 Leek, Lancelot Leek, and other leek varieties. Seeds are organically precision primed.
• Genesis SeedsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeed source for Alto Leek variety, which is described as coming from Genesis Seeds.
• Illinois Foundation SeedscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBreeding partner for Natural Sweet XR F1 Sweet Corn, developed by Illinois Foundation Seeds Inc. as continuation of Xtra-Tender genetics.
• Vermont FoodbankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProduce donation partnership through gleaning program where Vermont Foodbank staff harvest excess produce from trials field for distribution to those in need.
• Salvation FarmsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProduce donations to Salvation Farms' Lamoille Valley Gleaning Program, supporting regional food security through localized gleaning initiative.
• Pete's GreensminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Pies for the People/Soup for Supper program using squash puree from High Mowing fields created in Pete's Greens' kitchen for holiday food donations.
• Center for an Agricultural EconomyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in collaborative food program alongside Sterling College and Pete's Greens, meeting community food needs using locally grown produce.
• Sterling CollegeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in collaborative food program with Center for an Agricultural Economy, providing facilities and services for community food donations.
• Non-GMO ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-GMO Project verification partnership where High Mowing was first seed company to achieve 100% Non-GMO Project Verified status, with testing standards exceeding requirements.
• Non-GMO ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed Non-GMO seed standards with Non-GMO Project when they first asked for input on seed production standards.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Johnny's Selected Seeds: Maine-based employee-owned seed company offering vegetable, herb, and flower seeds to commercial growers and home gardeners. Closest direct competitor with overlapping commercial and home-gardener segments, similar field-sales channel, and broad SKU breadth.
• Fedco Seeds: Maine-based seed cooperative offering vegetable, herb, flower, and cover crop seeds via mail-order catalog. Comparable DTC distribution model with co-op ownership and a strong regional/Mid-Atlantic and Northeast commercial-grower base.
• Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds: Missouri-based heirloom and open-pollinated seed retailer serving home gardeners with a curated, mission-driven catalog. Comparable DTC e-commerce model with strong content/blog marketing and consumer focus on unique/rare varieties.
• Sow True Seed: North Carolina-based open-pollinated and heirloom seed company with comparable DTC, regional, and wholesale channels. Similar mission-driven branding and assortment of vegetable, herb, and flower seeds aimed at home gardeners and small-scale growers.
• Seed Savers Exchange: Iowa-based non-profit seed company preserving heirloom and open-pollinated varieties. Comparable mission-driven positioning around genetic conservation, organic focus, and DTC catalog sales; competes directly for the same organic-minded home gardener.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/highmowingorganicseeds
• Instagraminstagram.com/highmowingorganicseeds
• Xx.com/highmowingseeds

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about High Mowing Organic Seeds