The food and gardening startup furthers its mission to “undo food” with the release of organic, non-GMO, domestically grown seeds for 92 varieties of fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers — in packaging made of 100% recyclable materials.
With so many more of us in the US turning to our own backyards for fulfillment
and nourishment during the COVID-19
pandemic, sustainable
food and garden startup Back to the Roots is
looking to bring the industry back to its homegrown origins with an expanding
line of organic, 100 percent US-grown seeds.
The Oakland, Calif-based company — which specializes in indoor and at-home
gardening kits — first launched a pilot version of its organic seed packet
program this past spring,
during which the company’s wide variety of vegetable and herb seeds became
available at 100 Home Depot stores. Next spring, the program will expand to
locations across the country; and launch nationwide in Albertsons and
H-E-B supermarkets.
The seed line is the first 100 percent US-grown seed packet program in the
country — a designation that has proven especially significant in light of
Amazon’s recent ban on the sale of foreign seeds into the United States. On
Sept. 30, all listings on seeds from sellers abroad were removed from the online
marketplace, creating what Back to the Roots’ founders view as a new opportunity
for small, domestic seed farmers.
“Transparency has been at the core of our brand since day one — sharing the
stories of our incredible partner farmers and letting our community know exactly
where and how each of our products are made,” said Back to the Roots co-founder
and co-CEO Nikhil Arora. “And it’s exciting to see how consumers are now
demanding this transparency from brands — voting with their dollars across
categories and industries for transparently sourced products. Ultimately,
transparency is what we think will anchor a more sustainable future.”
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Back to the Roots defines itself as a company for a new generation of home
gardeners, with a mission to “undo
food”
by reconnecting young people to the land — whether that land is a backyard or an
indoor planter in an urban apartment — and to the way food is grown. The
company’s products — sold in over 10,000 stores
nationwide
— are aimed at making gardening accessible to growers of all experience levels
and in all types of living environments, ranging from easy-to-use indoor grow
kits to aquaponic water
gardens
and raised beds.
The pilot seed program launched this past spring included 92 varieties of
fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers — all of which are organic and non-GMO,
with packaging made of 100 percent recyclable materials.
“The future of gardening is changing — to really bring a new generation into the
garden, we have to move away from spraying who-knows-what chemicals on seeds
from farms located who-knows-where,” co-founder and co-CEO Alejandro Velez
said. “It’s about trust, transparency; and forming relationships: with the
earth, with our family and friends we share our harvests with, and with the
farmers who grow these incredible seeds.”
Back to the Roots was named a 2019 winner of The Home Depot Innovation
Award, and
named Walmart’s 2021 Gardening Spotlight
Brand
for innovation and sustainability.
Published Oct 9, 2020 2pm EDT / 11am PDT / 7pm BST / 8pm CEST
Vivienne Katz is a soon-to-be USC graduate in the Annenberg School of Communications. With a focus on lifestyle and health & wellness, she is working in the field of communications and public relations.