Kitazawa Seed Co.

Monday, October 29, 2012


I recently learned about the California-based Asian seed company Kitazawa Seeds. What an interesting story they have. Begun in San Jose in 1917 by Japanese seed man Gijiu Kitazawa, operations were interrupted when Japanese Americans were interned during WWII. Both before and after the war the company specialized in imported Asian specialty vegetables aimed at the Asian American market, particularly farmers in Oregon and California. Focusing on dento yasai or traditional heirloom vegetables of Japan, the company currently sells over 250 varieties of seeds. They have 23 different varieties of mustard greens alone! Exciting and a little overwhelming. Luckily they offer seed packages along different themes such as:
Pickling Garden
Asian Salad Garden
Stir Fry Garden
Macrobiotic Garden
Shabu Shabu (one pot cooking) Garden

They also have a handy section on their website for recipes teaching you how to make that Shabu Shabu and how to do Japanese style one-night pickling. 

One of my favorite stores, Kaufmann Mercantile, where I first learned about Kitazawa Seeds, carries a nicely edited selection of their seeds:









4 comments:

  1. Isn't it handsome packaging? I think they've pretty much just stuck with it through the ages which makes me like it even more.

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