Following the 2021 product launch, the second season of the open-pollinated organic seed brand “LEHMANNS Bio-Saaten” will begin in mid-February at several grocery retail partners. The in-store displays and products from the Meerbusch-based organic specialist lehmann natur feature not only tried-and-true and new organic and biodynamic seed varieties but also information and tips on trends such as urban gardening, self-sufficiency, permaculture, and sustainability. In this way, the company educates consumers directly at the point of sale—promoting organic from the very beginning.
“Seeds are the foundation of our food, yet many people give little thought to their breeding, quality, origin, and cultivation methods. We want to change that,” says Christina Marandi. The quality manager at the Meerbusch-based organic importer and producer lehmann natur is once again overseeing this year’s season for LEHMANN’S Organic Seeds. “Anyone who gardens organically in their own yard but uses conventional seeds is accepting that those seeds were produced using chemical pesticides and artificial fertilizers,” she explains.
From A for eggplant to Z for lemon balm, Lehmann Natur relies exclusively on organic and open-pollinated varieties. These are often not only hardier and easier to care for, but also can be replanted. Marandi explains what this means: “Hybrid seeds are a one-way street. Anyone who tries to replant the seeds of a hybrid plant the following year will be disappointed.” That’s because the plants that grow from them produce defective fruit. As a result, gardeners and farmers would have to keep buying new hybrid seeds over and over again. “A sustainable circular economy looks different,” Marandi points out.
Lehmann natur aims to help consumers garden successfully in the most environmentally friendly way possible. To that end, the company provides information on its in-store displays and seed packets about which varieties should be sown and cared for, when, and how, and offers tips on sustainable gardening using permaculture. This is a particularly natural, ecological form of gardening that Lehmann natur practices itself on its own farmland in Spain. In addition, the company explains on its website and social media channels the differences between open-pollinated and hybrid seeds, as well as between organic and biodynamic breeding and propagation. “Seeds are a very emotional topic for many people—because there’s life in them. But very few people realize that their breeding and propagation also have an ecological and ethical dimension, and that most organic foods to date have come from conventional seeds,” says Marion Hoffmann, a member of the executive board at lehmann natur.
With its motto “Organic from the Start,” Lehmann Natur is pursuing a clear mission. “We’re now heading into our second season with our seeds, full of enthusiasm. We want to make open-pollinated organic and Demeter seeds accessible and understandable to as many people as possible,” said Marandi.
About Lehmann Natur
Lehmann Natur is a wholesaler and, through its farms, a producer of organic, Demeter, and permaculture-certified fruits and vegetables. Based in Meerbusch, the company has been committed since 1988 to making it possible for all consumers to enjoy healthy, ecologically sustainable, natural products of the highest quality.
With its two farms in southern Spain, lehmann natur successfully practices climate-positive agriculture in accordance with permaculture guidelines and views this as a model for the agriculture of the future. In addition, the company promotes biodynamic agriculture and assumes social responsibility throughout the entire supply chain. Together with other stakeholders in the food industry, lehmann natur is also actively involved in the dialogue forum on reducing food waste to promote the responsible use of our resources.
Farmers around the world grow organic and biodynamic fruits and vegetables for lehmann natur. To meet its high standards for quality and sustainability—including in its logistics operations—the company operates its own organic packing facility at its Korschenbroich location, which processes exclusively organic products. Since 2021, the open-pollinated seed brand LEHMANNS Bio-Saaten has complemented the company’s product range and underscores its commitment to thinking organic from the very beginning.
Contact person:
Lisa Kadagies Lehmann Natur Gesellschaft zur Erzeugung und zum Vertrieb ökologischer Produkte mbH Otto-Hahn-Straße 10 40670 Meerbusch Email: presse@lehmann-natur.com Website: www.lehmann-natur.com
Images:
Caption: Raised beds are becoming increasingly popular and allow for the cultivation of multiple crops in a small space.
Caption: Seven new varieties have been added to the existing lineup.
Caption: Tomato plants can grow easily on a balcony and produce flavorful fruit.
Caption: In addition to vegetables, the selection also includes herbs, flowers, and salads.
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