It may get harder to buy Israeli basil seeds in Maine

The vegetable and herb seeds Mainers order to start their gardens each year have an unexpected connection to escalating global conflicts, and the conversation is growing here.

A number of popular organic basil varieties sold in the United States come from the Israel-based and Israeli-owned Genesis Seeds Ltd., which also sells vegetables, herbs and flowers to international seed companies and distributors including at least two headquartered in Maine.

Israel is approaching a year at war with Palestine, where more than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in response to the deaths of 1,200 Israelis in an attack by militant group Hamas last October.  

Over that past year, several seed companies have called for a ceasefire in Gaza, including Maine-based Edgewood Nursery and Fedco Seeds. In January, a public letter to Maine’s congressional delegation calling for a ceasefire was signed by numerous local farms. Some have also stopped purchasing from Israel, including Fedco.

Many other seed companies are still offering Genesis varieties, and Maine growers who want them can likely find them elsewhere. But the conversation around these seeds has spread on social media, and it shows how connected Maine’s food supply can be to international forces.

Israel isn’t among the major seed exporters — overall, the country was the 17th worldwide in 2022 — but it sent $17 million of seeds to the United States that year, the last for which data is available. The United States is the second largest importer of seeds, totaling $603 million in 2022.

Genesis Seeds specifically has developed varieties that are resistant to downy mildew in partnership with an Israeli university, according to the company website. Downy mildew, a fungal disease that can wipe out entire plantings, is one of the biggest problems that U.S. basil growers face.

The company’s catalog lists 13 copyrighted Prospera varieties, several types of Genovese and Italian large leaf available this year, along with specialty varieties including purple basil, sweet Thai varieties, species made for microgreens and one ornamental.

It also carries cucumbers, numerous eggplants, lettuces, melons, peppers, squash and tomatoes that can be found in popular seed catalogs.

Three varieties of the Prospera basil are exclusively marketed in the U.S. by Maine-based Johnny’s Selected Seed Co., according to the catalog.

Johnny’s did not return a request for comment.

Fedco called for a ceasefire on social media in late July, writing that much of its seed comes from international sources.

“Now that we are living in the midst of a genocide and land grab by Israel, funded by the US, we face uncomfortable questions, such as: are we willing and able to stop harm as it’s happening? Or only express our regret and apologies after the fact?” the post read.

In late September, a letter-writing campaign by the volunteer activist group Maine Coalition for Palestine urged the cooperative to stop purchasing from Genesis Seeds. Fedco said in an Instagram comment last week that it has, and last ordered before the conflict began.

A spokesperson for Fedco said in August that the cooperative company, which has a history of commitment to social justice causes, makes decisions like these collectively and the ceasefire call came after months of internal discussion.

They did not return additional requests for information this week about what seeds will no longer be available.

Collections of Palestinian heritage seeds are also for sale in the United States from retailers including TrueLove Seed Network and Hudson Valley Seed Co.