Row 7 Seed Co., based in Newburgh, N.Y., has launched a line of branded vegetables available in select Whole Foods Market locations in the Greater Boston area.
The organic seed company is focused on flavor and co-founded by Chef Dan Barber and vegetable breeder Michael Mazourek, according to a news release.
Barber is chef and co-owner of Blue Hill in Manhattan and Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills, N.Y. Author of “The Third Plate,” Barber has been called the “philosopher chef” and has been pivotal in growing the sustainable farm-to-table food movement.
By creating a new arm of the business to complement its seed offerings, Row 7 is advancing its mission to reimagine food from seed to table.
Born out of a mission to change the agriculture industry from the ground up, Row 7 works alongside chefs, plant breeders and farmers to co-select new varieties of vegetables.
Row 7 is building a growing model to bring these vegetables to the supermarket produce aisle. The company partners with regional, organic farmers to support biodiversity above and below ground. Consumers will be able to enjoy flavorful regional and organic agriculture, as well as seasonality.
“Row 7 on the supermarket shelves is the realization of a dream for this company,” Barber said in the release. “Our hope in launching Row 7 was to bring these vegetables into people’s home kitchens and spark a new seed-to-table conversation that supports tastier food, healthier soils and more diverse and nutritious diets.”
Related news: Bringing up baby butternuts, and other experiments in squash
These Row 7 vegetable varieties are available in select Whole Foods Market store locations, with plans to expand to more stores in the Northeast in 2023:
- Badger Flame Beet: Selected by breeder Irwin Goldman, this golden beet is mild, sweet and delicious, whether raw or roasted. Grown in New York and Massachusetts.
- Honeypatch Squash: Bred to reimagine the workaday butternut, this squash packs concentrated sweetness, flavor and beta carotene into a single serving. Grown in New York.
- Robin’s Koginut Squash: Developed by Michael Mazourek, this little pumpkin has become a cult favorite for its velvety texture and rich, nutty flavor. Grown in New York.
- Upstate Abundance Potato: Selected by second-generation potato breeder Walter de Jong, this potato is delicious roasted, smashed or boiled. The creamy flesh is naturally packed with flavor, requiring no butter. Grown in Maine and Vermont.
