Our Story.

West Coast Seeds was founded in 1983 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Our purpose is to source and supply seeds of a higher quality than have been available to home gardeners. Following the traditions of organic farming and gardening, untreated and certified organic seeds are our focus. Today we offer over 1,100 varieties of untreated, non GMO, non GEO, open pollinated, and hybrid seeds as well as a wide range of quality gardening supplies. West Coast Seeds is certified by the Pacific Agricultural Certification Society (Registration number 16-205).

The Diamonds are fourth generation British Columbia based family whose businesses are overseen by Craig Diamond. Since Craig’s grandfather, Jack Diamond, came to Canada in 1927 as a young man and purchased his first business in 1940, the Diamonds have been engaged as leaders in business. They continue to follow the principles of community and philanthropy set by Jack, and further exemplified by his son, Charles. The values of West Coast Seeds resonate deeply with the Diamond family and they are committed to uphold this tradition.

The Diamond family is proud to carry on stewardship of West Coast Seeds in the spirit of those who have come before us.

Our Integrity.

West Coast Seeds believes, first and foremost, in the principles of organic growing and sustainable agriculture. Namely, we believe that food and all plants should be grown without the use of synthetic chemicals and that the seeds we supply are an important component within the broader conceptual approach to organic gardening. We believe that growers are custodians of the land they grow on — however large or small — and that by nourishing the soil through organic gardening techniques like composting, companion planting, and crop rotation, the plants they grow will be more vigorous, and less demanding. We believe that food should be grown in healthy soil. We believe that promoting biodiversity is an essential element of healthy farming.

Company Facts

Non GMO Seeds. West Coast Seeds does not knowingly carry or sell any seeds that have been genetically engineered. The selling of genetically engineered organisms is a highly regulated industry, and such seeds are not commonly available to home gardeners. We make the Non-GMO statement in response to customer demand.

The term “genetically engineered organism” (GEO) is defined by Canadian and US regulators as organics that have been engineered by the introduction of genes of unrelated species. Unlike hybridization, genetic engineering cannot occur without human intervention. In the European Union the preferred term is “genetically modified organism” (GMO), which can lead to some confusion.

Learn more about these terms in the Glossary section of our website. We encourage a clear understanding of the meanings of these terms.

Certified Organic. West Coast Seeds is a Certified Handler of Organic Seeds. We are certified by the Pacific Agricultural Certification Society (PACS), and our registration number is 16-205. Organic certification ensures that the seeds we offer are not produced using chemical fertilizers or pesticides. We maintain thorough record keeping on all of our organic suppliers, and our records are subject to regular audits by our certifier. This means that there is a clear paper trail between every seed we sell and the field in which it was grown. We conduct regular quality assurance checks to ensure that every seed lot we carry is kept segregated and clearly identified.

Untreated Seeds. All our seeds are tested for germination and purity. Each seed lot in our inventory bears a recent germination and purity report made by an independent, government certified seed lab. These reports ensure that all our seeds meet or exceed the Canada No. 1 germination rate. They also ensure that each seed lot has been carefully screened for the absence of weed seeds. Our annual testing of every seed lot is part of our commitment to offer only the highest quality seeds.

Nonprofit and Volunteer Involvement

Each year, West Coast Seeds supports several groups and organizations worldwide by donating seeds through our Seed Donation Program. We are extremely proud and happy to partner with a number of honorable causes, allowing us to encourage sustainable organic growing practices. By providing seeds and materials in support of growing and environmental educational programs, we continue to build community relationships and encourage others to join us in our mission to help repair the world.

Quotes

"This is a feel-good company. It’s about doing the right thing with organics and non-GMO seeds"

- Craig Diamond.”