Seeds of Change: How Snake River Seed Cooperative is Empowering Farmers and Strengthening Local Economies
Photos by Marilyn Isaac Photography
Exploring the Roots of Snake River Seed Cooperative
Snake River Seed Cooperative (SRSC) is deeply committed to cultivating agricultural resilience and supporting local economies through a farmer-driven, community-centered approach. What started as the Common Wealth Seed Library evolved into Snake River Seed Cooperative in 2014 –a collection of small-scale family farmers operating within the Intermountain West where the seeds are grown, hand-packaged, and offered to gardeners and farmers around the region and beyond. In 2021, SRSC transitioned to an employee and grower-owned cooperative, ensuring that farmers have a direct voice in the decisions that impact their livelihoods and the cooperative's operations.
The mission of SRSC is about far more than just selling seeds. As Operations Manager Kendra Morgan explains, “While our business model revolves around paying farmers for seed, and selling that seed to the public, this is just the means to an end. Our purpose is to build a healthy, regional seedshed for our community that can protect our food systems in times of scarcity, and to reawaken collective knowledge and passion around seed saving and adaptation, the importance and necessity of farms and farmers within our communities, and to reconnect people to the joy one can reap from getting their hands back into the earth.”
Seeds from SRSC are expertly adapted to thrive in the unique, often tough conditions of the Intermountain West, thanks to a talented network of seasoned growers who refine and improve them with each growing season. “This means our seeds are primed to flourish in home gardens across the region, even as gardeners face challenging shifts in climate. Having been cultivated in an area that can see an 80-degree temperature swing within a single day and where access to irrigation is often limited, our seeds are tough, resilient, and ready to rise to the occasion in your garden.”
What makes SRSC truly unique is its deep-rooted commitment to paying farmers fair wages, providing them with the knowledge and support they need to succeed, and fostering a connection between gardeners and the land. “We work with farmers throughout the Intermountain West, which includes all of Idaho, Eastern Oregon, Eastern Washington, Western Montana, Wyoming, Northern Utah, and Northern Nevada,” Kendra says. The seeds produced in this region are sold through nurseries, garden centers, and small businesses across the region, as well as through SRSC’s online store.
A Seed to Celebrate: Love’s Baby Bump Watermelon
This season, SRSC is thrilled to introduce several new seed varieties to both online customers and wholesale partners, including Wasabi Arugula, Rouge Vif D'Etampes Pumpkin, Red Kuri Winter Squash, Standfast Sunflower, Black Diamond Eggplant, and Principe Borghese Tomato. One of SRSC’s most exciting new offerings this season is Love’s Baby Bump Watermelon, an Idaho-bred watermelon developed by urban horticultural specialist Stephen Love in Aberdeen, Idaho, where growing seasons are notoriously short. Typically, watermelons require long seasons to ripen, but this variety was specifically bred to thrive in marginal temperatures, making it perfect for the Intermountain West’s colder climates.
Kendra shares a personal connection to the variety: “Reiley, our inventory manager, grew this in her garden in 2023 and harvested fruit up to 25 pounds while she was eight months pregnant!” The playful name, Love’s Baby Bump Watermelon, was a collaborative effort between Stephen Love, SRSC, and the farmers who grew it at Affinity Farm. “I love that we got to be part of the naming story for such a cool project,” Kendra adds.
This melon variety exemplifies the mission of SRSC to offer seeds that are not only regionally adapted but also a result of innovative and thoughtful breeding. Kendra proudly notes, “Stephen Love chose to share his newly bred watermelon variety exclusively with Snake River Seed Cooperative, and we’re honored to offer this exceptional variety to gardeners and farmers throughout the region.”
Supporting the Local Economy Through Wholesale Partnerships
Snake River Seed Cooperative’s commitment to supporting local farmers extends beyond individual sales. Wholesale partnerships play a key role in their business, helping distribute regionally adapted seeds far and wide while fostering collaboration within local economies. Wholesale Manager Eden Engberg emphasized the value of these relationships: “SRSC wouldn’t be what it is today without the generosity and dedicated patronage of our wholesale partners.”
By partnering with nurseries, garden centers, and small businesses across the Intermountain West, SRSC ensures that their mission reaches a broad audience. They provide their partners with retail materials, such as signage and racks, as well as social media opportunities that help increase visibility for both the cooperative and the retail accounts. “These partnerships contribute to robust, regionally based economies,” Eden explained, “keeping money in the local economy while protecting our region from large corporate influences.”
The cooperative’s commitment to its wholesale partners is built on mutual respect and shared goals. Events with partners create personal connections, giving SRSC the opportunity to engage with the community directly, educate customers, and gather feedback. “I prioritize the opportunity to put my face to my name for accounts,” Eden shared, adding, “Engaging with our community and letting them meet and interact with us makes the cooperative a very real and impactful entity.”
A Growing Movement with Deep Roots
At its core, Snake River Seed Cooperative is more than just a business—it’s a movement designed to protect our regional food systems and ensure that farmers and gardeners alike have the tools they need to thrive. By empowering local growers and providing high-quality, regionally adapted seeds, SRSC is building a stronger, more resilient local food economy and reconnecting people with the knowledge and joy of growing their own food.
As SRSC continues to expand and evolve, its dedication to seed stewardship and supporting the community remains constant. With new varieties like Love’s Baby Bump Watermelon and a growing network of farmers across the Intermountain West, Snake River Seed Cooperative is helping to ensure a healthier, more sustainable future for everyone involved in the local food movement.
Funding for project/publication was made possible by a grant/cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.
