Germination Standards

We rigorously test our seeds twice per year through the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to ensure that your seed will germinate and remain viable for as long as possible in proper storage. We never sell seed that does not meet or exceed the Federal Seed Act standards of germination. We ask that you keep the LOT# from the seed packet so we can keep track of any complaints. We are in no way responsible for crop failures due to weather conditions, insects, disease, grower error, or other factors.

 

Sell-by Dates

We are required by Federal law to label all seeds with a “sell-by” date no more than one year past their latest passing germination test. In reality, many seeds will remain viable well beyond their sell-by date if stored in dark, dry, cool conditions. 

 

How to Order

We accept orders via our online store and over the phone. Online orders must be paid for by credit card. If you need to pay with a check or cash, please make a list of what you’d like to purchase and then give us a call at 828-254-0708. We have a small staff and sometimes may not be able to answer right away, but will return all calls within 48 hours. We no longer accept mail-in orders. If you’re in the neighborhood, visit our brick and mortar store in downtown Asheville, NC! Our store stocks everything we sell online, plus additional growing supplies, artisanal local products, and fun gardener goodies.

 

Free Shipping 

 Orders containing $49 or more of only seed packets will receive free shipping automatically. Orders containing less than $49 in seed packets or containing products other than seed packets will have the shipping cost automatically calculated at checkout. 

 

Shipping Cost 

If your order does not qualify for free shipping, shipping costs are calculated based on weight, package size, and zip code. If your order is under 1 lb you will have the option of USPS First Class, USPS Priority, or UPS Ground shipping. If your order is 1 lb or over, it cannot be shipped USPS First Class, and  will be shipped via USPS Priority or UPS Ground. Sweet potato slips will always be shipped USPS Priority Mail or UPS Ground, due to the perishable nature of the slips.

 

Shipping Lead Time  

Orders ship out in the order that they are received. We do our best to ship out orders as quickly as possible. Generally, orders containing in-stock products will ship within two business days. Orders do not ship on weekends or holidays. Please note that during peak season (January - April) the shipping lead time may increase due to order volume. We ask that you allow for additional time to receive your order. Up-to-date shipping lead times can be found at the top of the home page on our website. 

 

Transit Time 

All orders are shipped by the United States Postal Service or UPS. For USPS First Class (packages under 1 lb), transit time is typically 5-6 business days. For USPS Priority and UPS Ground (1 lb and over), transit time is typically 2-3 business days. If your order is over 1 lb it will be shipped USPS Priority or UPS Ground, it cannot be shipped USPS First Class. We cannot guarantee transit times. All transit times vary by season. In order to receive tracking information for your order, you must provide a valid email address. All tracking information is sent via email. 

 

Shipping outside of the United States

Canada - Orders to Canada cannot be placed online and must be placed over the phone. We can only ship seed packets to Canada. The cost of shipping an order to Canada is a flat rate of $25, and all orders will be shipped USPS. We are unable to ship to Canada through UPS or any other mail service. Please note, seeds certified USDA Organic in the US are not certified organic by Canadian standards. Customers are responsible for all taxes or customs fees your country may levy beyond our flat shipping rate.

 

US Territories - Orders to US territories may be placed online and will be shipped via USPS.

 

Other countries - We are unable to ship orders to foreign countries other than Canada at this time. Please be aware that third-party mailing services that forward packages internationally may reject packages containing seeds due to international regulations on shipping biological material. If you attempt to ship an order internationally through a third party and this occurs, we are unable to issue a refund.

 

Pre-Order Items: 

Some items in our online store are designated as “pre-order” items. These are typically plants that are available only seasonally, such as seed potatoes, garlic, or sweet potato slips. The shipping window for these items is noted on each item’s product page. We are unfortunately unable to alter the shipping dates of these items based on individual customers’ growing zones or preferences. In general, our shipping times for seasonal items are based on Southeastern US planting times. Please check on the recommended planting times for your zone before ordering these products.  If your order has both pre-order items and in-stock items (such as seed packets, cover crops, etc.), the in-stock items will ship immediately, and the pre-ordered items will ship at the time stated on the product page and the invoice.

 

Local Pickup

If you live near Asheville, North Carolina, and would like to pick up your order instead of paying shipping, you can select local pickup at checkout under delivery options. Please provide an email address so we can contact you when your order is ready to pick up. Please allow us time to process local pickup orders, and do not arrive before receiving notification that your order is ready. Orders will be processed in the order they were received along with other online orders. Items for pickup that are not picked up within 60 days will be donated to our community partners. These items are not eligible for refund. 

 

Returns, Refunds, and Exchanges

For quality control reasons, we regret that we cannot accept returns of seed or live plant materials, as these items are perishable and cannot be re-sold once they have left our facility. We accept returns of unopened, unused durable goods such as tools and supplies for any reason within 30 days of purchase for a full refund minus the cost of return shipping. If an item you purchased from us is found to be defective or damaged upon receipt, we will fully refund or replace the item at no extra charge. Please contact us to arrange a return, refund, or exchange by emailing info@sowtrue.com or calling 828-254-0708. 

 

Security and Privacy Policy

The security of your personal information is important to us. We never save our customers’ credit card details, and we will never share any personally identifiable information about you without your consent. Our Shopify-powered online store is certified Level 1 PCI DSS-compliant (the industry standard in security for all merchants accepting major credit cards), so you can rest assured your card information is safe when you shop with us.