Frequently Asked Questions
Terms of Business
Trade Winds Fruit is committed to providing our customers some of the most difficult to find and exotic seeds fresh from harvest. We do not store seeds for excessive amounts of time and will send limited-viability seeds undried. We periodically test our seed stock and can attest to germination as we cultivate many of the plants ourselves, from our own seeds. All seeds are for planting purposes only, and should not be consumed. We identify all plants and seeds to the absolute best of our abilities and take great care to make sure both species and varieties are sourced and identified correctly. Some species are similar in appearance and nature, and Trade Winds Fruit does not make any guarantee or hold any liability if germinated seeds produce differently or are different from parent sources. Our tomato and pepper seeds are open-pollinated and as such, cross-pollination may sometimes occur. We offer no warranty on any seeds but in most cases are happy to work with customers or provide replacements for non-viable seeds. Many tropical seeds have widely varying germination times. Please refer to our seed germination page for tips on germination and estimated germination times.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many seeds are in a pack?
- The number of seeds per pack varies with the type of seed. The number of seeds per pack is listed in the item description.
Do you take phone orders?
- We do not currently take phone orders, but along with online orders, we also accept mail orders.
Do you have a printed catalog?
- We do not publish a printed catalog at this time. New seeds are added often, so please see our online store pages for all of our current in-stock seeds.
Do you test your seeds?
- We do test seeds for germination and viability before sending them to our customers. If they don't germinate for us, we don't send them!
My seeds are not germinating. What should I do?
- Please check our tips on seeds germination. Many tropical seeds have widely varying germination times. Examples include palms, which often take up to 6-12 months for germination and the Passiflora's, which may take up to several months to germinate without pre-treatment
I want to return my package. How do I do that?
Oops! I accidentaly gave you the wrong shipping address, what can I do?
- If your order has not shipped, please e-mail us immediately at: service@tradewindsfruit.com. If your order has already shipped, you will need to contact the United States Postal Service to see if they can reroute the shipment to your correct address. We can only reship orders to changed shipping addresses once the original shipment has been returned to us in full. Often, it takes several weeks to a few months for packages to be returned.
Where can I get more information on my plants?
How do I place an order?
- You can order online through our shopping cart.
- You can order by mail. Just fill out the order form and mail it with payment to:
Trade Winds Fruit
P.O. Box 9396
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
Forms of payment.
Can I use your pictures for my own uses or put them on my website/blog/etc.?
What do you charge for shipping?
To what countries do you ship?
- We ship to most countries. Buyers should check with their home country about any local import restrictions on specific seeds they plan to order.
How much do you charge for international (outside of the United States) shipping?
How long will it take to receive my order?
Can I have a tracking number?
How do I find out the status of my online order?
- Most orders will be sent within 2-7 business days after your order is received. Shipping times can vary once the order has shipped depending on destination and delivery option. Please see the questions above for more information. If you have specific questions about your order please e-mail us at service@tradewindsfruit.com.
You can also check the status of your shipment if you have an account with us.
How do I find out the status of my mail order?
- Please e-mail us for information about the status of mail orders. Most orders will be sent within 2-7 business days after your order is received. Shipping times can vary once the order has shipped depending on destination and delivery option. Please see the questions above for more information. If you have specific questions about your order please e-mail us at service@tradewindsfruit.com.
How can I find out about new seed arrivals?
- We offer an e-mail notification and newsletter service. To join, submit your e-mail in the e-newsletter box at the bottom right hand corner of the page. E-mails are not frequent and we never share or sell your e-mail address.
Do you carry GMO seeds?
- We do not carry any seeds to our knowledge that have been artificially genetically modified in any way.
What are F1 hybrid seeds? Are they GMO?
- The vast majority of the seeds that we carry are open pollinated, however we do offer a handful of hybrid vegetable varieties (mostly tomatoes and peppers). F1 refers to the first generation of offspring from the hybrid cross. Seeds from future generations of the hybrid cross cannot be saved true to type as they may not reliably produce offspring with the same characteristics as the parent plant. All hybrid seed that we carry is F1 seed.
I received an unsolicited e-mail from you containing an attachment, what is it?
- We do not send unsolicited advertisement e-mails, and we will never send you any e-mail with an attached file unless it was specifically requested. This is a common trick used by individuals and software programs wishing to spread viruses and malware. E-mail is sent to a user, seemingly from a real business or person, and includes an attached file, usually with a short, vague message. Never open the attached file. Delete such e-mails immediately.
Do you sell bulk seeds?
- We do sell a limited selection of seeds in bulk. Please see bulk seeds.
For all other questions, please contact us at: service@tradewindsfruit.com