Nov 21, 2023

Organic hybrid Sweet Garleek named a best invention of 2023

A year after organic seed developer Row 7 Seed Company began selling its innovative products through Whole Foods, the company is expanding its presence there, with plans to add more items in 2024.

Row 7’s Sweet Garleek, a cross between a garlic and leek, recently joined other fresh produce available at Whole Foods. Sweet Garleek, which looks like a green onion, recently was named a Time Magazine 2023 Best Invention in the Food & Agriculture category. Sweet Garleek was in development for 10 years by Row 7, which was founded by chef Dan Barber.

Row 7 began its Whole Foods partnership with a pilot program in fall 2022, with its Badger Flame Beet, Honeypatch Squash, Robin’s Koginut Squash and Upstate Abundance Potato. After the pilot surpassed expectations, it expanded throughout the Northeast, and also the just-released Lodi Squash. Sweet Garleek was available at some New York City-area Whole Foods stores (its season ended recently), and will expand to Northeast Mid-Atlantic and West Coast Whole Foods stores in 2024 and nationally in 2025.