National Garden Bureau recently hosted an online discussion panel, SeedFacts, to discuss the high demand for seed as well as shortages on retail shelves of certain varieties.
ang seven panelists answered questions from the chat and gave some insights into what sila are seeing with the supposed seed shortages. Here is what you need to know.
The Panelists
The panelists were:
- Nathan Zondag, Vice President of Operations at Jung Seed Company
- Curtis Jones, Co-Founder and President of Botanical Interest Seeds
- Judy Seaborn, Co-Owner of Botanical Interest Seeds
- Jeannine Bogard, Home & Garden Vegetable Lead at Syngenta utanon
- Marissa Verdi, Vice President of Harris Seeds
- Nick Pucci, North America East Customer Marketing Manager at Bayer CropSensya
- David Mehlhorn, Co-CEO of Mga Pinili nga Binhi ni Johnny
The Seed Shortage is More of a Labor Shortage
One topic reiterated throughout the panel was that the seed shortages are due to labor rather than low seed yields.
"Laborsyon mao ang labing dako nga problema, especially in a rural community like akong,” says Nathan Domingo, Vice President of Operations at Jung Seed Company. “COVID-19 also makes things more complicated.”
"Ako would not necessarily say there is a seed shortage, "Miingon Jeanine Bogard, Home & Garden Vegetable Lead at Syngenta utanon. "There is plenty of seed to go around, but it might not be in the specific variety someone is looking for at that moment in panahon."
ang Average Age of New Gardeners has Dramatically Nahulog
Sa usa ka butang brought up by the panelists was that the average age of new gardeners has nahulog. The industry has needed to catch up with their demands as well.
"The numbers last season have shown we have ange million new hardinero, and there will be even more this year,” says Curtis Jones, Co-Founder and President of Botanical Interests Seeds. “The average age of gardeners has fallen considerably, and I think you are going to see labaw pa sa usa ka interest in organics because of that age pagminus"
"The new growers are so excited to grow, and their enthusiasm is great,” Bogard nag-ingon. "Tsa iyang is really a boom for our industry, and the enthusiasm is tdinhi. ”
Pagpailob Is Key
uban sa everything going on in the seed market, the panelists said it is best to order early and be patient. sila also recommended sa pagbantay saIng customers informed but not panicked to avoid any seed hoarding.
"You don’t want to tell consumers to buy their seed now because we are going to run out. They are going to start hoarding it if you say that,” Jones says. “You have to balance what you tell your customers carefully.”
"I do suggest customers and growers turn in their orders early and be patient,” says Judy Seaborn, Co-Tag-iya of Botanical Interest Mga liso. “Tell consumers to expect some out-of-stock varieties, and if ang variety they are looking for is out of stock, show them a substitute. Gardeners and growers alike should be flexible with varieties.”