By now many seed catalogs have arrived to dazzle garden planning. An interesting consideration is where do these companies get their seeds. Unfortunately, the number of commercial seed growers and developers are owned by just a few multinational corporations. While their names are familiar to large agricultural operations, many small growers, hobby gardeners and homesteaders may not realize that their seed and transplant dollars go to support such corporations as Mansanto (who owns 40% of all seed production in the US market as well as the patients of many well known heritage varieties).
So what to do? Many of the best seed sellers have banded together by signing the Safe Seed Pledge.
http://www.councilforresponsiblegenetics.org/viewpage.aspx?pageId=261
As you consider sources for your seeds and transplants, please consider using a source listed on the above link.