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The Times of India
The Times of India
World
TOI World Desk

John Swenson’s 1975 rocambole garlic order helped spark America’s garlic revolution decade

Seed Savers Exchange USDA Exchange Central Asia Russia United States

In 1975, while practising as a lawyer, John Swenson became interested in alliums while flipping through a seed catalogue. Out of sheer curiosity, he ordered rocambole garlic bulbs and never looked back. According to Seed Savers Exchange, he became a lifetime member in 1985, listed 133 varieties in its Yearbook over 33 years and donated 150 varieties to its seed bank collection. In 1989, he joined a USDA team on a mission through Russia and Central Asia, which returned with 120 varieties of garlic. His sharing of some of those varieties helped spark a "Garlic Revolution" in the United States seed trade.

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