Hope in the form of seeds
by Jennifer Rich, published February 13, 2007 in the Bradenton Herald
What does a small packet of vegetable seeds have to do with the world economy?
Ask Mike Mueller and he'll tell you it's the hope for the future of developing countries like Haiti, Afghanistan and Uganda.
The seeds represent a way out of poverty and into entrepreneurship for some of the poorest residents on the globe. Mueller and a small group of others in Manatee County involved in a nonprofit organization known as Hope Seeds are trying to provide food security for these countries by showing individuals how they can grow and harvest their own crops year after year.
The organization has a 2,000-square-foot air conditioned warehouse that holds hundreds of thousands of packets of seeds worth $300,000 to $500,000 on two acres of leased land at 5174 County Road 675.
Seed packets specially formulated for each country's need, culture and climate are being shipped to regions hit by natural disasters like flooding, which wiped out most of Guyana's crops, and Tropical Storm Jeanne, which hit deforested Haiti, washing away fertile topsoil and taking 2,000 lives. Each year, Hope Seeds provides packets of seeds and more than 300 tote bags of personal hygiene packages to orphanages in Haiti.
The United State's usual response of sending "leftover" food supplies to these countries hit by devastation is not the way to promote a lasting solution, Mueller said.
"If we want to save the world's problems, we shouldn't just send them what we have leftover," he said. "It is often easier to ship leftover food than show them how to grow it."
The faith-based organization works with missionaries in these countries who understand the local conditions and shepherd through the seeds so they will reach their destination.
"Millions of hungry people don't have access to seed there, while farmers here have seed companies fighting for their business," Mueller said.
Organizers also make sure they are shipping seed that will be successful for each country. In Afghanistan, for instance, people don't eat broccoli. But they do like cauliflower and cucumbers. Haitians like Swiss Chard but didn't know how to prepare it, so the missionaries working with Hope Seed showed them how.
Hope Seeds is working with eight ministries or strategic partners in Haiti to start a new business enterprise of raising crops for seed and then selling that seed and seedlings to farmers to replenish their crops. It is a way to promote food security and ensure that despite famine, drought or other natural disasters, Haitian farmers will have enough good seed for the next year.
Mueller hopes Hope Seeds Haiti will become successful enough that the business can become a model for starting other similar enterprises in developing countries providing commercial quantities of seed.
"They (Haitians) don't have access to established (seed) depots where farmers can count on having good seed each year," he said. "This is one of the biggest dilemmas they have in struggling nations."
So far Hope Seeds Haiti, started in 2003, has produced $4,000 in annual gross sales and gotten the attention of area farmers who are starting to purchase seeds and soon seedlings for their own gardens.
Enoch Firmin, manager of the project, is here for a nine-month stay to learn more about seed and plant production to bring the expertise back to his country.
"He went ga ga when he walked into our grocery stores here," Mueller said. The abundance and variety of vegetables and fruits astounded him "He asked, 'Is it always like this?' "
Hope Seeds is run mainly on private donations and also receives support from local clubs, churches and organizations. In the last three years, the organization has shipped 300,000 packs of seed valued at $1 million.
Mueller, who has been involved in mission work at Hope Lutheran Church in Bradenton, used to be in the wholesale seed industry, selling vegetable seed to farmers as an agent with Harris-Moran Seed Co. and later as an independent agent with his own seed company.
Board member Frank Sinot thinks with a higher profile and more donors, Hope Seeds could mean all the difference for developing nations.
"We are on the threshold of doing wonders," Sinot said. "We could do 10 times what we do now if we reach our goal of doubling or tripling our donor base in two years."
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