Inside Bay Area: Company endures tough times, becomes historical
...A seed company doesn't traditionally rank too high when looking for history lessons. That is, unless the seed company in question is Oakland's Kitazawa Seed Company. Founded in San Jose in 1917, the Kitazawa Seed Company is one of the Bay Area's oldest Japanese-owned businesses, and one of its most persistent survivors...Long considered a niche company in the vegetable seed sector, servicing mostly elderly Asians and their backyard home gardens, Kitazawa is enjoying a new life since Shiroyama took over in 2000..."When we bought the company, they offered 50 to 60 varieties of seeds — now we're offering over 300 varieties," says Shiroyama. "And not just Japanese vegetables, or vegetables familiar to Japanese cooking anymore. We've since broadened to Thai vegetables, Indian and Chinese"...Well-known chefs often use Kitazawa Seed Company as a resource, and though Shiroyama won't divulge a client list, she does allow that Nobu...has used her company's services...more...
