Organic seedlings grown in Wairarapa are part of a comeback bid in world markets for an established plant variety.
Heritage Farms owner Colin Walker, of Carterton, planted his seedling business six months ago in his several gardens "scattered throughout the region".
Mr Walker has been working with heritage food plants since 2000,
he said, which involves maintaining plant material that has begun to disappear as fewer companies are providing for the world's gardens.
"The statistics show that about eight companies control the world's seedlings and they grow them from a very small genetic base. It has been found that there are much higher levels of anti-oxidants that protect the body in older plant material."
He said over the years there has been a loss in the nutritional value of food.
"There has been some analysis of the difference between the older plant material and that which is used by most companies today, and the difference is quite spectacular."
Wairarapa is "one of the best" seed growing areas, he said, where he is now a member of the Wairarapa organics group.
"We distribute seedlings throughout New Zealand from our Koanga gardens (meaning spring) and we are the only New Zealand seedling company that produces all organic seeds."
After just finishing the first season's harvest and plans to expand next year, he said, "it has been quite a difficult growing season".
"We produce a full catalogue of vegetable seedlings. You know it, we grow it."
Mr Walker is in the process of starting a direct marketing service for later in the year. "It will work so that people pay in advance for their fruit and vegetables and we will grow them."
For $500 over three months, customers will be supplied their fruit and vegetables on a weekly basis, he said.
"People will actually have a much more direct interest in the vegetables and will have a say in what we grow. They will also have the freshest supply possible because we will harvest and deliver in the same day."
It's more complicated than "just growing a couple of seeds," he said.
"If people are specifically looking for a seed that is part of the organic system then what we are doing is perfect for them."
