Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I order by phone?
2. How can I request a catalog?
3. I requested a catalog. Where is it?
4. Why does it take 1-2 weeks before seeds or supplies are shipped? Why can’t they be shipped immediately?
5. Do you sell gift certificates?
6. Why are there deadlines for ordering?
7. Can I order products from any division on one order form?
8. Can I combine totals from different divisions to get a discount or a higher discount?
9. Can I come and shop in your store?
10. Do I have to be a member of the Cooperative, or part of a group, to order?
11. Is seeds shipping really free?
12. How do I calculate shipping for my order?
13. Can I get an express shipment?
14. Why can’t my tree order be shipped in September or March instead of April?
15. Why can’t my potatoes be shipped in early March?
16. Are all of Fedco’s seeds organic?
17. Are any of Fedco’s seeds treated with fungicides?
18. Does Fedco sell any genetically modified seeds?
19. What if something is missing from my order? Or if I received the wrong item?
20. What if my tree/shrub/plant arrives dead or badly damaged?
21. What if my seed does not germinate well or is not true to type?
22. Does Fedco ever donate outdated seeds?
23. Can I get a letter that my seeds are GMO-free?
24. Can I get a letter that the products I buy are allowable for organic certification?
25. May I return something I ordered in error?
26. How do I plant my seeds?
27. What varieties should I plant?

1. Can I order by phone?  top
No. You may order by mail or internet. To keep our product costs low and our order filling accurate, Fedco does not take orders by fax or over the phone.

2. How can I request a catalog?  top
We take catalog requests only by phone or mail. Catalog request info. When you place an order with us, you are automatically added to our mailing list.

3. I requested a catalog. Where is it?  top
We mail the Seed catalog (which also contains Moose Tubers seed potatoes and Organic Growers Supplies) in late November and early December. It takes a while for bulk mail to reach its destination. After December we send Seed catalogs when requested until mid-March or until we run out of them. We mail Tree catalogs by bulk in late September and Bulb catalogs in early June.

4. Why does it take 1-2 weeks before seeds or supplies are shipped? Why can’t they be shipped immediately?  top
We fill each order in the same order as we receive it and as quickly as possible. During peak season—January-April for seeds and supplies—it takes time to work through the piles of orders we receive each day. More often than not, we ship these orders within a week of receipt.

5. Do you sell gift certificates?  top
Yes. Send a check for the certificate amount and specify recipient’s name, where to send the certificate, and whether we should include a catalog. Please note that gift certificates can be used only with paper orders; we cannot process them with online orders.

6. Why are there deadlines for ordering?  top
Fedco is a seasonal company. Only Organic Growers Supply operates year-round. We primarily serve customers in the northeastern United States and our schedules correspond to the growing season in our part of the world. Link to schedules.
Seasonal operation helps us keep our prices low by maximizing our efficiency and our sanity intact because we do different things at different times of the year.

7. Can I order products from any division on one order form?  top
No. Fedco has different divisions that operate on different seasonal schedules and out of different warehouses. It helps keep our costs down, and prices low, if orders are sent in on each division’s own order form.

8. Can I combine totals from different divisions to get a discount or a higher discount?  top
No, each division has a different discount schedule and discounts apply only to each divisional order form.

9. Can I come and shop in your store?  top
We are primarily a mail-order business and do not have a retail store. You may shop at the Organic Growers Supply warehouse in Clinton, Maine, on Wednesdays or Fridays from 9 to 3 (January-April) & on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday from 9 to 3 (May-December). You may shop at the Fedco Seeds warehouse in Clinton, Maine, on Wednesdays or Fridays from 9 to 3 (January-April) & 9 to noon (May-September). Click here for directions to our warehouses. Our big annual retail events are the Tree Sale and our booth at the Common Ground Country Fair in Unity, Maine, and our Bulbs pickup and surplus sale day.

10. Do I have to be a member of the Cooperative, or part of a group, to order?  top
No, we welcome orders from anyone. If you order as part of a group you could save money. All our divisions offer discounts based on dollar volume; see the Ordering Information page for each division for specifics (Seeds, Organic Growers Supply, Moose Tubers, Trees, Bulbs).

11. Is seeds shipping really free?  top
Yes, for orders $30 and over. Orders under $30 pay $5. Cover-crop seeds (item numbers in the 8000s) from Organic Growers Supply, are subject to OGS shipping charges.

12. How do I calculate shipping for my order?  top
Each division has its own shipping rates. (Seed order info, Organic Growers Supply and Moose Tubers shipping chart, Trees shipping chart, Bulbs order info.

13. Can I get an express shipment?  top
No. We fill each order in the same order that we receive it and do not have systems in place to expedite orders.

14. Why can’t my tree order be shipped in September or March instead of April?  top
Fedco Trees operates on a seasonal basis to keep costs and prices low. Most of the trees and plants arrive at our warehouse in March. We begin pulling and packing orders in the first week of April. April is the only time when all of the products are available to be shipped.

15. Why can’t my potatoes be shipped in early March?  top
Potatoes arrive at our warehouse in March. We repack them before orders can be pulled and shipped. Since Fedco is located in central Maine we also need to wait for the weather to warm up before we can ship potatoes without fear of them freezing in transit.

16. Are all of Fedco’s seeds organic?  top
No. Approximately 30% of the seeds Fedco sells are certified organic. The certified organic varieties have an ‘OG’ after the variety name.

17. Are any of Fedco’s seeds treated with fungicides?  top
No. Fedco does not sell any treated seed.

18. Does Fedco sell any genetically modified seeds?  top
No. Genetic Engineering Info

19. What if something is missing from my order? Or if I received the wrong item?  top
First, see if the item is marked ‘back-order’ (coming later) or ‘out-of-stock’ (not available and your total has been credited). If it is marked received on your invoice, it is our error. Please fill out the correction form on the back side of your pick sheet. We will send the item or a refund promptly and we will return the form.

20. What if my tree/shrub/plant arrives dead or badly damaged?  top
Fill out the correction form on the back of your invoice and send it to us by mail. We will replace the plant (if possible) or send you a refund. Generally we do not have replacements available after the Tree Sale. If you waited several weeks for the plant to break dormancy and it did not do so, you can send the correction form, or write for a refund, or you can let us know that you would like to order a replacement for no charge on the following year's order. Please let us know of any problem within 30 days of discovering it. Please note that since we have no control over the conditions in which a plant is planted or tended we cannot extend our guarantee of a live plant across the years.

21. What if my seed does not germinate well or is not true to type?  top
Please email seed quality remarks to CR Lawn: seedquality@fedcoseeds.com

22. Does Fedco ever donate outdated seeds?  top
Yes. Typically, we donate seeds in late January or February (once we've determined what's available). Most of our donations come from small lots of seed not worth testing, seed that does not pass federal germination standards (but is still reasonably viable) or seed that has some other issue (such as off-types). In recent years we've focused primarily on local requests as the need in Maine alone has outstripped what we have to donate. Please send a written request (including where to send the seed) by the end of December. We cannot respond in advance as to the availability of donated seed.

23. Can I get a letter that my seeds are GMO-free?  top
We do not knowingly carry any genetically engineered seed. See the Safe Seed Pledge and our policy. You can combine your invoice with our pledge for your documentation.

24. Can I get a letter that the products I buy are allowable for organic certification?  top
Your invoice is your documentation that we are a certified-organic handler. Click here to view our certificate. Seeds and seed potatoes labeled ‘OG’ are certified organic. Some of our amendments and supplies are on the national list or the OMRI list, but it is your responsibility to check with your certifier about the allowability of any product.

25. May I return something I ordered in error?  top
You may not return seeds, potatoes, or nursery stock. You may return an Organic Growers Supply item in good condition for a $5 restocking fee.

26. How do I plant my seeds?  top
Information about planting and cultivation is in the beginning of most Seed catalog sections and is posted online as the additional information link in most seed descriptions. Organic Growers Supply lists books with information about diverse aspects of gardening and farming.

27. What varieties should I plant?  top
Talk to your neighbors or your local extension service about plants that do well in your area. We give as much information as possible in our descriptions, but it is relative to our central Maine location.

Still have unanswered questions? Email us: questions@fedcoseeds.com