Pioneering Seed Company Expands Coast-to-Coast with Sweet Garleek and Full Portfolio of Flavor-Forward Varieties

After captivating home cooks and chefs during its limited regional availability, Sweet Garleek—Row 7 Seed Company's revolutionary new vegetable—is making its national debut at every Whole Foods Market across the country.

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Row 7 Sweet Garleek

This groundbreaking allium joins Row 7's full portfolio of flavor-forward vegetables in a nationwide expansion that represents the culmination of the company’s unique model that brings together public plant breeders, regional organic farmers, and chefs to reimagine vegetables from the seed up.

"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 Row 7 founder Chef Dan Barber. "We're thrilled to bring this innovation to Whole Foods Markets nationwide, making it accessible to home cooks everywhere."

THE SWEET GARLEEK STORY: FROM SEED TO YOUR KITCHEN

Sweet Garleek's journey began 10 years ago when allium breeder Hans Bongers identified a unique leek with uniformly straight shafts and a distinct garlicky flavor. Through Row 7's collaborative approach, this discovery was tested by chefs and farmers around the country who provided feedback from both field and kitchen.

The result? A vegetable that marries the sweetness of leeks with the mellow, savory notes of garlic. Unlike traditional leeks, you can use the whole thing, tops and all, whether sautéed, grilled, or even raw. This zero-waste approach exemplifies Row 7's philosophy: vegetables bred not just for yield or shelf life, but for the way people actually cook and eat.

Row 7 has partnered with regional organic partners like Norwich Meadows Farm and Lakeside Organic Gardens to scale Sweet Garleek. The successful growing season that enabled this national expansion proves that farming for flavor is also good business.

"The national availability of Sweet Garleek represents a milestone not just for Row 7, but for the entire movement to put flavor first in plant breeding," said Charlotte Douglas, President of Row 7 Seed Company. "When vegetables taste this good, people naturally want to cook and eat more of them—and that's a delicious way to impact both human and planetary health."

YOUR NEW VEGETABLE COLLECTION

Sweet Garleek joins a delicious and distinctive roster of organic vegetables that Row 7 is scaling this year. Each variety represents years of collaborative breeding, farmer dedication, and a shared belief that vegetables can and should be delicious enough to inspire a new generation of home cooking.

In addition to Sweet Garleek, find these Row 7 varieties throughout the growing season at Whole Foods Market locations nationwide:

Upstate Abundance Potatoes: Creamy, nutty and buttery (even without the butter), this little creamer potato is abundantly delicious

Badger Flame Beets: A sweet, mild golden beet ready to convert even the skeptics

Koginut Squash: Selected for its rich, nutty flavor and velvety texture, this prized pumpkin is perfect for roasting or purées.

Honeypatch Squash: A single-serving butternut packed with concentrated sweetness and beta-carotene

Sweet Prince Tomatoes: This versatile little tomato is bursting with flavor and ideal for roasting, sautéing and dehydrating — if you can resist eating it raw

About Row 7 Seed Company

Row 7 Seed Company, founded by world-renowned chef Dan Barber, mobilizes chefs, farmers, plant breeders, and plant eaters to develop exceptional new vegetables selected for our palates and the planet. Row 7’s line of branded organic vegetables was created to complement its seed offerings and advance its mission to reimagine food from seed to table. The collaboration between Row 7 and Whole Foods Market gives consumers greater access to the seed company than ever before.

For more information, visit row7seeds.com.

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After captivating home cooks and chefs during its limited regional availability, Sweet Garleek—Row 7 Seed Company's revolutionary new vegetable—is making its national debut at every Whole Foods Market across the country.