Author of the article: Yutaro Sasaki • Local Journalism InitiativePublished Apr 26, 2025 • Last updated 26 minutes ago • 2 minute readVeseys workers Joyce Kelly, left, and Tara Matheson display some red pepper plants at the shop in York, P.E.I. Yutaro Sasaki/Local Journalism Initiative Photo by Yutaro Sasaki /Local Journalism InitiativeYORK, P.E.I. – Gardeners ready to think about planting should consider the challenges presented to their efforts in their last growing season.In an interview with The Guardian on April 14, Tara Matheson, with Veseys Seeds in York, P.E.I., says customers are already thinking about what they want to plant and where they’re going to plant it.“They should be thinking about any difficulties they had last year and ways to improve on that. So let’s say if they had blight in their tomatoes, moving their tomatoes to a new location,” she said.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle content Customers at Veseys can find many variety of seeds to grow on P.E.I. Photo by Yutaro Sasaki /Local Journalism InitiativePopular plantsBesides its retail hop in Prince Edward Island, Veseys ships seeds, bulbs, tools and more to customers across North America, with catalogues going out to more than a million addresses.Matheson said carrots are probably the most popular seed for the business.“We probably sell the most carrots. We sold 47 million carrot seeds last year. We sell a lot of cabbages, too,” she added.Right now, customers are looking for onion and garlic sets, especially since the spring weather has started to arrive, Matheson said.“People are ready to get their stuff on the ground. So right now, everyone’s coming in for onions and garlic,” she said.Climate plays a factorPerhaps not surprisingly, Prince Edward Island is good for potatoes because of its iron-rich soil, Matheson said.Article content“But our climate is changing from when I was a kid 40 years ago. So watermelons grow really well here,” she said.Customers can also grow peaches and plums, Matheson added.“They can also grow strawberries. We have a great season for everything,” she said.Climate is a factor for knowing the potential of a seed, Matheson said.“We can’t do oranges because we don’t have the climate. But when it comes to fruits and vegetables, we carry almost everything that grows here,” she said. Local Island farmers also bring their business to Veseys Seeds. Photo by Yutaro Sasaki /Local Journalism InitiativeU.S.-Canada relationsThe threats of U.S. tariffs are affecting the equipment side of the business, Matheson said, because the company brings in tractors and lawnmowers, which contain steel.U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum on March 12.Article contentOn the other hand, more customers are choosing to shop at Veseys to keep their business in Canada.“We have noticed an influx of people asking where we’re getting our seeds from,” Matheson said.“So we ship all across the country. People from Ontario and B.C. are reaching out to us and just double-checking that we are Canadian,” she said.Seed sourcesSo, where do the seeds come from? Matheson said Veseys carries seeds from all parts of the world.“A lot come from Holland, the Netherlands, France, Belgium. Some seeds are grown in the United States, but not many,” she said.Mail order beats retail store sales, Matheson added.“We have a huge team of people, and we have a secondary location out by the airport where we do all of our shipping,” she said.Yutaro Sasaki is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter, a position funded by the federal government. He can be reached at ysasaki@postmedia.com and followed on X @PEyutarosasaki.gArticle content
Veseys Seeds customers consider political climate, temperatures when choosing what to grow
