Who are we?
The pioneers of organic seeds
After their specialized education in horticulture in the early 1980s, Christine and Robert Zollinger began to accumulate experience in vegetable breeding and seed production.
In 1984, in Thurgau, they started to select seeds of vegetables, herbs and flowers. It took more than three years of work before they could offer a small range of seeds. In 1991, a unique opportunity arose to acquire a 25-hectare estate in Les Evouettes, located in the Valais, at the mouth of the Rhone River in Lake Geneva. This purchase opened up new possibilities, and the range of seeds could be considerably expanded. Today, 200 to 250 different varieties of plants are grown each year!
Today, as in 1984, everything is done in-house, from selection and production to sales. Every year we send our customers a catalog, and thanks to mail order, our seeds are available for all gardeners - and since 2006 also through our website.
Do you want to meet the team ?
Our philosophy
Since the early 1980s, we are focusing on specialities and traditional varieties. They often have long familiy histories, having been selected over generations. They are perfectly adapted to local climates, and reflect their breeders' tastes and preferences.
We are proud to control the whole seed production process, and mainly sell our products through our website, allowing full control over our offer.
Our commitment
We aim to preserve the biodiversity of agricultural plants
Our varieties are a true Horticultural Heritage. They come from the tradition of the monasteries and the ancient peasant gardens.
We mark them with a special logo that guarantees the following criteria:
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Traditional crops specially adapted for the Alpine Arc, with a long history of selection
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No hybrids: seeds of these varieties can be collected and used without restriction. There are no patents or genetic engineering that would restrict our gardeners.
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Horticultural value: robust plants, guaranteed harvests, tasty vegetables and colorful flowers.
- The production and maintenance of the varieties is done in Switzerland. These plants are therefore adapted to our climate and gardening practices.
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Continuous selection: by cultivating these varieties on a regular basis, we select each time the best plants and take back the seeds for the next generation, guaranteeing a constant improvement.
- Organic production, as much in the selection as in the production: these plants are therefore 100% organic and will be best adapted to this method of culture.
Our story
The beginnings of the company
Christine and Robert Zollinger start with their first selection trials in Amriswil (TG).
First catalog with just 12 varieties
Domain's acquisition in Les Evouettes (VS) and move
First color catalog
First website
Christine et Robert sont récompensé pour leur oeuvre par le prix Lammsbräu de la durabilité.
The company is taken over by the second Zollinger generation. The brothers Tizian, Til and Tulipan take over the company.
Launch of ZiZAN!A Biobotanica, our cosmetics brand based on upcycled ingredients from organic seed production..
Falc Zollinger, the youngest, joins his three brothers in the business. The siblings are complete!
Our varieties
Most of our varieties have an individual history. Some can be designated as family varieties, as they have been passed down from mother to daughter, as a precious heirloom. Local and regional varieties have their origin in their name. They are closely linked with the history and customs of a region.
Every year, customers send us samples of seeds from varieties they consider valuable, whether for their beauty, disease resistance or taste. Sometimes it's just a handful of seeds, because the variety is no longer grown. Each of these samples gives us great pleasure and we thank the senders.
After sowing these seeds in our experimental garden, we analyze the characteristics of the plants that grow from them, and compare them with other lines. If the plants are of interest to us, our work continues: selecting the best specimens, and multiplying the seeds. It takes between three and five years until a variety is finally available in our catalog! This is how our offer grows every year. Most of these varieties would have disappeared if we had not taken care of them.
For us, a living variety is one that is sown, cultivated and used !
Healthy and robust plants
Our selection work focuses on productive and disease resistant varieties
Certified organic
All our seeds are certified organic and are adapted to your growing methods.
No hybrids or GMOs
We do not use any genetic engineering, our varieties are all reproducible.
Selection in Switzerland
All our plants are selected by us and perfectly adapted to our climate.
Organic certificate
All our seeds are certified organic.
You can download our organic certificate (PDF) on the website EasyCert.
