Seed Savers
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1975
- HeadquartersDecorah, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Seed Savers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Seed Savers
- Legal name
- Seed Savers Exchange, Inc.
- Website
- https://seedsavers.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1975
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Seed Savers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Heirloom Seed Preservation and Exchange
- NAICS
- Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers (444240), Nursery and Floriculture Production (11142), Nursery and Tree Production (111421)
- SIC
- Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply (5200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Open-Pollinated/Varietal Seed Multiplication (AFAGAIAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Seed Production & Multiplication (Contract Growing, Foundation/Certified Seed) (AFABAFAK)
Keywords
Where Seed Savers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Decorah
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Seed Savers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Seed and Product Sales: Revenue from selling heirloom seeds, plants, and related products through the online catalog, physical catalog mail orders, and The Exchange marketplace. Includes sales of garlic, vegetables, flowers, herbs, and specialty items. In 2024, sales and shipping generated $3,904,531 (62.9% of total revenue).
- Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to The Exchange, the Yearbook, and member benefits. Served 6,862 members including 1,521 lifetime members in 2024. Generated $330,657 (5.3% of revenue).
- Donations and Contributions: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and government grants supporting the nonprofit mission. Includes Planned Giving and Grow Our Future endowment programs.
- Conference and Events: Revenue from annual conference registrations, virtual workshops including Apple Grafting series, and benefit concerts. Conference revenue was $16,940 in 2024.
- Seed Rack Program: Wholesale program allowing garden centers, co-ops, and gift stores to stock Seed Savers Exchange seed packets on consignment or purchase basis.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Apple Grafting Level I - Instruction Only |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Apple Grafting Level II - Instruction + Scion Kit |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Apple Grafting Level III - Full Grafting Kit |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Seed Packet Retail Pricing |
| Subscription | Monthly | Social Media & Engagement Coordinator |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Seed Savers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Seed Savers Exchange stewards and sells heirloom and open-pollinated seeds through its seed bank of 20,000+ varieties, The Exchange peer-to-peer seed swap platform, and an annual retail seed catalog offering 600+ varieties. The organization complements these core offerings with community science programs (ADAPT, RENEW), seed donation initiatives (Herman's Garden), educational workshops (Seed School, Apple Grafting), membership, and Heritage Farm tours at its 890-acre Decorah, Iowa headquarters.
Product overview
Seed Savers Exchange operates as a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive ecosystem of seed preservation and education products and programs. The core offerings include a seed bank collection of over 20,000 heirloom and open-pollinated varieties maintained at Heritage Farm, and The Exchange—an online seed swap platform enabling gardeners to share and request seeds. The organization complements these with retail operations through an annual seed catalog and online shop offering 600+ varieties, along with community science programs including ADAPT (seed trials), RENEW (regeneration), Herman's Garden (seed donations), and the Heirloom Collard Network. Educational offerings include Seed School courses, the Apple Grafting Workshop Series, virtual conferences, and a library of growing guides. The 2026 Yearbook serves as the annual printed compilation of Exchange seed listings. Heritage Farm tours provide in-person engagement at the 890-acre preservation site.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Seed Catalog and Online Shop Annual catalog and online shop offering over 600 unique, open-pollinated, non-GMO, non-hybrid varieties of heirloom vegetables, herbs, and flowers, with free shipping on orders over $25. Targeted at home gardeners seeking rare and historically significant varieties.
- Yearbook Annual printed edition of The Exchange, published since 1975, containing seed listings from gardeners worldwide and available to listers, eligible members, and for purchase.
- The Exchange Seed Swap Platform Online gardener-to-gardener seed swap platform at exchange.seedsavers.org where members and nonmembers list, share, and request heirloom seeds. Listed 18,594 varieties in 2024, including 5,558 from the SSE Heritage Farm collection, and is open to gardeners worldwide.
- Seed Rack Program Wholesale program allowing garden centers, co-ops, gift stores, and nurseries to stock Seed Savers Exchange seed packets on display racks for retail sale. Hundreds of retailers participate across the United States.
- Apple Grafting Workshop Series Virtual workshop series teaching techniques for bench-grafting apple trees, including splicing dormant scion wood and rootstocks. Registration offered in three tiers ($35 instruction only, $75 instruction plus scion kit, $115 full kit with bench grafting knife) and includes knife skills training, live Q&A, and ongoing tree care guidance.
- Seed School Educational program teaching seed saving techniques and practices, with 284 participants in 2024. Offered in both in-person and virtual formats.
- Heritage Farm Tours Guided tours and hiking trails at Heritage Farm, the 890-acre property in Winneshiek County, Iowa, including orchards, cattle pastures, and remote gardens, with behind-the-scenes preservation tours such as the September 12, 2026 Behind the Scenes at Heritage Farm tour.
- Annual Conference and Celebration Annual in-person conference and celebration at Heritage Farm, complemented by virtual conference sessions with 341 virtual attendees in 2024, connecting gardeners with seed saving knowledge and community.
- Annual Membership Annual membership program providing access to The Exchange seed swap, the Yearbook, and member benefits. Served 6,862 members in 2024 including 1,521 lifetime members, generating $330,657 (5.3% of total revenue).
Quantifiable outcome
- 20,000+ rare and open-pollinated varieties protected in seed bank
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Seed Savers
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Seed Savers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature4 records
Seed Savers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and key sponsor.
- U.S. Botanic GardencoreCollaboration on heirloom collard varieties featuring five storied varieties ('Pridgen's Yellow,' 'Green Glaze,' 'Tabitha Dykes,' 'Hard Headed Cabbage Collard,' 'Old Timey Blue') in a public kitchen garden display at USBG in Washington, D.C. Educational programming on heirloom collard production and seed saving extended to public and local urban growers.
- SeedLinkedcoreTechnology platform partner for ADAPT community science program, enabling tracking and analysis of variety trial data across participants' gardens.
- Heirloom Collard ProjectcoreCollaborative research project on overwintering of collards in cold climates, building on original 2020 research to identify varieties suitable for Northern seed production.
- Iowa Natural Heritage FoundationminorPartner in preservation and conservation efforts in Iowa, supporting SSE's mission to protect heirloom seed diversity.
- USDAminorCollaborates on agricultural preservation initiatives and germplasm conservation research.
- UNFIkey sponsorTitle sponsor supporting SSE's nonprofit mission and educational programs.
- Community Seed NetworkcoreAffiliated organization supporting broader seed saving community engagement. All educational materials on SSE's website, YouTube channel, and Community Seed Network website available for public use with proper citation.
- Svalbard Global Seed VaultcoreBacks up SSE's collection at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway, ensuring long-term preservation of varieties against loss.
- Rando GordominorTitle sponsor supporting SSE's mission and programs.
- Toppling GoliathminorKey sponsor of SSE events and programs.
- greenpennyminorKey sponsor of SSE events and programs.
- Mountain Rose HerbsminorKey sponsor of SSE events and programs.
- Alliant EnergyminorSeed sponsor providing support for SSE's seed preservation and education work.
- Chelsea Green PublishingminorSeed sponsor supporting SSE's mission through publishing partnerships.
Scale indicators17 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Seed Savers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds: Largest direct-to-consumer heirloom seed catalog in North America, offering 1,000+ open-pollinated varieties through mail-order catalog and online store. Closely comparable to Seed Savers Exchange in product breadth, customer base (home gardeners), and mission emphasis on heirloom preservation.
- Johnny's Selected Seeds: Employee-owned seed company offering vegetable, flower, and herb seeds including heirloom and organic varieties. Comparable as a direct-to-consumer seed catalog serving home gardeners and small-scale farmers with extensive variety selection.
- Hudson Valley Seed Co. Art-pack-focused heirloom seed company offering open-pollinated varieties with cultural storytelling. Closely comparable target customer (mission-driven home gardeners), direct-to-consumer model, and emphasis on seed stories/lineage like SSE.
- Fedco Seeds: Cooperative seed company specializing in cold-climate and heirloom varieties for the Northeast. Comparable catalog model, cooperative/mission-driven ethos, and customer base of organic and biodynamic growers.
- Native Seeds/SEARCH: Nonprofit regional seed bank conserving Indigenous Southwestern crop varieties. Directly comparable as a mission-driven nonprofit seed bank with community-supported model, conservation mandate, and direct seed distribution to growers.
- Southern Exposure Seed Exchange: Worker-owned cooperative offering heirloom and organic varieties suited to the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Comparable in catalog structure, heirloom focus, and direct-to-consumer model with strong educational content.
- Territorial Seed Company: Vegetable, flower, and herb seed catalog serving home gardeners and small farmers with organic and heirloom selections. Comparable catalog model, customer segment, and growing guides/educational content for similar gardener audience.
Broad incumbents
- Burpee: Mass-market seed and plant company with broad catalog including hybrid and heirloom varieties sold through retail and online. Operates in the same category at vastly larger scale; key competitive incumbent for hobbyist gardener seed purchases.
Emerging players
- Adaptive Seeds: Small-scale organic and heirloom seed farm in Oregon specializing in Pacific Northwest-adapted varieties. Compares on organic/heirloom focus and direct grower relationships, but smaller and more regionally focused than SSE.
- Sow True Seed: Small Asheville-based open-pollinated and heirloom seed company with regional focus on Southern Appalachia. Comparable mission emphasis, smaller catalog, direct-to-consumer sales, and educational content around seed saving.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Seed Savers social profiles
Digital presenceSeed Savers compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Seed Savers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Seed Savers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
Seed Savers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Seed Savers M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Seed Savers
What does Seed Savers do?
Seed Savers Exchange stewards and sells heirloom and open-pollinated seeds through its seed bank of 20,000+ varieties, The Exchange peer-to-peer seed swap platform, and an annual retail seed catalog offering 600+ varieties. The organization complements these core offerings with community science programs (ADAPT, RENEW), seed donation initiatives (Herman's Garden), educational workshops (Seed School, Apple Grafting), membership, and Heritage Farm tours at its 890-acre Decorah, Iowa headquarters.
Is Seed Savers a public or private company?
Seed Savers is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Seed Savers founded?
Seed Savers was founded in 1975. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Seed Savers based?
Seed Savers is headquartered in Decorah, United States, in the North America region.
How does Seed Savers make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Seed and Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are membership Dues, donations and Contributions, conference and Events and seed Rack Program.
Who are Seed Savers's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Johnny's Selected Seeds, Hudson Valley Seed Co., Fedco Seeds, Native Seeds/SEARCH, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange and Territorial Seed Company. Burpee is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Adaptive Seeds and Sow True Seed.
Does Seed Savers have an API?
No public API is recorded for Seed Savers.
What industry is Seed Savers in?
Seed Savers's product category is Heirloom Seed Preservation and Exchange. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAGAIAE, Open-Pollinated/Varietal Seed Multiplication, with a secondary code of AFABAFAK, Seed Production & Multiplication (Contract Growing, Foundation/Certified Seed). Its NAICS code is 444240 and its SIC code is 5200.