b'of the box without having to find all the seeds, components and how-to information from separate sources. Support for those first-time gardeners is also an important component of business success for Baker Creek. When you start out, it can be really hard, so we have a big team of horti-culturalists on staff to provide advice, says Brazaitis. Anything we can do to help people garden, we will do. Both novice and experienced gardeners can also tour the Baker Creek site on weekdays, through a pre-arranged tour or self-guided. The team also offers workshops on request, other educational and fun events, and works with local schools, church groups and master gardener associations. As well, as part of its business mission and an element in its continued success, Baker Creek has established a global reach. The Baker Creek team runs fundraiser programs with many char-ity organizations in economically disadvantaged places, not just in the United States., but around the world. The firm also donates seeds after natural disasters. Lastly, with a youth farming organi-zation called Mesa, young people come to Baker Creek for a year to learn as much as possible. When they return home, they receive support to start farms, and in some cases, grow seed for Baker Creek as well. Seed packaging can shape an entire brand.PHOTO: BAKER CREEK HEIRLOOM SEEDS.Storytelling Still Sells SeedMarketing avenues to both reach potential customers and secure repeat business is obviously central to any smaller seed companys success. At Baker Creek, the print catalogue is the shining star. We produce the catalogue ourselves with new descriptions and pictures every year, says Brazaitis. There are about 30 people working on it throughout the year. It has to be flashy and beautiful. Its critically important to show people vegetables and flowers they never knew existed, or colors that really excite them. It really attracts the first-time gardeners. To great those fantastic catalogue shots, some years ago Baker Creek installed its own professional photo studio. However, e-commerce is obviously not ignored by seed com-panies that continue to thrive. True Leaf Market has invested in its website, creating detailed seed shopping guides to help garden-ers pick exactly the right seed from their vast collection. For example, we offer almost 400 varieties of tomato, Garlitz says. Our quiz helps customers narrow down their options based on their zip code (maps to their USDA growing zone), desired color, type (cherry, salad, slicing or processing), whether the tomato plant needs a growing support or not, seed type (heirloom, hybrid, organic), determinate (single harvest) or indeterminate, when they want to harvest based on days from planting, and where the plant will be growing (container, raised bed, garden plot, greenhouse, etc.).These seed selection quizzes have lots of embedded educa-tion, so new gardeners learn about growing the vegetable inCatalogs help a company reach their target market.question at the same time they narrow down their choices.PHOTO: BAKER CREEK HEIRLOOM SEEDSJANUARY 2026SEEDWORLD.COM /17'