01.27.10

1/26/10 – Nature’s Crossroads Releases “Trusty Tomato” Hoosier Heirloom

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – On February 1^st, 2010, Nature’s Crossroads will be holding a virtual grand opening to promote its online seed store.  The company’s focus is certified organic and locally grown seeds from varieties that thrive in the Midwest.  They are especially proud of their exclusive product, the “Trusty” tomato, an heirloom variety developed in Morgan County, Indiana over the last seventy years.

“This tomato is the reason Natures Crossroads even exists,” said co-founder Jeff Evard.  He was deeply touched when his neighbor, Mr. Emory Trusty handed him a jar of seeds from the tomato strain he had been saving every year for most of his life.  “The taste is everything a Hoosier tomato should be – rich and tangy and just perfect.”  Over the years, the tomato strain adapted beautifully to the central Indiana climate and can now be considered a Hoosier heirloom.  Evard decided to name it the “Trusty” tomato in honor of Emory Trusty’s lifelong seedsaving efforts.

Evard has been running LIFE Certified Organic Farm with his business partner Art Sherwood for over three years.  They founded Nature’s Crossroads last year to continue their mission: promote organic growing in Indiana.  “We believe that local, organic food is key to a healthy community and a healthy economy,” says co-founder Art Sherwood.  “Nature’s Crossroads allows us to support organic gardeners and farmers with high-quality seeds and educational outreach.”

The company is based in Bloomington and sells products through their webstore, seed racks in retail outlets around central Indiana, and a unique school fundraiser program that incorporates an educational component.  “We are especially excited about seeing more kids in the garden,” says Art.

Another big goal is to find local sources of organic seeds.  Nature’s Crossroads is currently selling over a dozen heirloom tomato varieties that were grown on LIFE Certified Organic Farm.  Their goal is to increase the number of locally grown varieties every year by working with LIFE and other local farms to produce high quality seeds that are well-adapted to the Midwest climate.  “Our intention is to provide our customers with local, high quality seeds while also supporting small organic farms in Indiana,” said Mr. Sherwood.

What about those local heirlooms?  ”I hope to find more stories like the Trusty tomato,” says Mr. Evard, “because the moment he handed me the seeds, I felt a deeper connection than ever before to my farm and my purpose as a local organic food supporter. Call it what you will, I feel a responsibility to that one unique organism whose fate was entrusted to me that fine day.”

Nature’s Crossroads will be offering online specials throughout the month of February to celebrate its 2010 product line, including several contests and prizes for organic gardeners.  For more information about Nature’s Crossroads, please visit www.naturescrossroads.com or contact Maggie Sullivan at 812-327-9612 or maggie@naturescrossroads.com.