Key Takeaways
- Row 7 Seed Company’s Sweet Garleek is now available nationwide at Whole Foods Market locations
- The vegetable combines characteristics of leeks and garlic and was developed through Row 7 Seed Company’s collaborative breeding model
- The launch follows a regional rollout and feedback from chefs and growers
- The company partnered with regional farms to support commercial scaling
- Additional Row 7 varieties are also being distributed during the growing season
Row 7 Seed Company Expands Sweet Garleek Availability
Row 7 Seed Company has announced the national launch of Sweet Garleek, a new vegetable now available at Whole Foods Market stores across the United States. The rollout follows earlier limited regional availability and is part of the company’s broader strategy to distribute its seed-bred vegetable varieties through retail channels.
Sweet Garleek is the result of a collaborative process involving plant breeders, chefs, and organic farmers. “Sweet Garleek is more than just a new vegetable—it’s proof that when chefs, farmers, and plant breeders work together, we can create ingredients that inspire entirely new ways of cooking and eating,” said Dan Barber, founder of Row 7 Seed Company.
Development and Commercialization Process
Sweet Garleek and the Row 7 Model
The company states that Sweet Garleek was first identified by allium breeder Hans Bongers and developed over the course of a decade. The variety features a straight shaft and a flavor profile intended to merge sweetness and savory notes. Unlike traditional leeks, the entire plant is marketed as usable, including the green tops.
The company worked with regional producers, including Norwich Meadows Farm and Lakeside Organic Gardens, to grow the crop for broader distribution. Row 7 Seed Company noted that the 2024 growing season enabled scaling to meet national demand.
Additional Products in Distribution
In addition to Sweet Garleek, several other of the companies’ vegetable varieties are being sold at Whole Foods Market locations during the 2025 growing season. These include:
- Upstate Abundance Potatoes – small white creamer potatoes
- Badger Flame Beets – a golden beet variety
- Koginut Squash – a hybrid squash selected for texture
- Honeypatch Squash – a smaller butternut variety
- Sweet Prince Tomatoes – a cherry-sized tomato designed for versatile use
Row 7 Seed Company
The company is an organic food company that collaborates with chefs, farmers, and plant breeders to develop new vegetable varieties with unique culinary, nutritional, and ecological traits. Its mission is to improve food from seed to table.
The company sells organic, unpatented seeds through an online marketplace and introduced a branded line of organic vegetables in grocery stores in 2022. Row 7 continues to expand its retail presence, particularly in the U.S. Northeast.
