The Story of Seal the Seasons

As the chill of autumn closes in and winter is just a snowy breath away, the memory of summer’s lavish bounty can induce wistful sighs and unfulfilled cravings. If only there were a way to have that glorious local produce all year round.

Well, now you can. Because Patrick Mateer and Seal the Seasons are on a mission to rescue local farmers, lift up local economies, and furnish a profusion of perfectly ripe, brilliantly flavored local fruits every day of the year. We’re talking peaches from South Carolina, cranberries from Wisconsin, cherries from New York, strawberries from Oregon, blueberries from California; all are locally grown, family farmed, non-GMO, and frozen at their very peak of blissful ripeness.

Passion Meets Social Conscience

Mateer’s commitment to produce started early on—he was president of his high school community garden. In college, he worked at local farmers markets and got to know the growers, their stories, and their problems. “I learned how diverse their harvest was, and how they didn’t have a good outlet for hundreds of pounds of produce. Farmers needed new outlets for their crops to combat the uncertainty of farming.”

It was here, in the personal give and take between local farmers and their customers, that Mateer’s vision was born. “Our conversations showed me how many unique and passionate reasons people had to buy from their local farms: flavor, freshness, trust in farming practices, the value of speaking directly to your actual farmer, keeping money in the local economy, and supporting local jobs and sustainable carbon practices for our children’s future. The community’s strong values showed the true demand and the opportunity to make Seal The Seasons a reality.”

The Sweet Taste of Success

In just a few short years, what began as a modest experiment has become an exhilarating example of what can be accomplished when passion and social conscience are intertwined with commerce and profit. Seal The Seasons sources locally, freezes and packages locally, and sells locally—between 92% and 98% of the products’ cost goes back to local farmers, freezing facilities, warehouses, and trucking. Local economies are lifted on multiple levels. “We’re intentional in building a food system not only focused on superior taste, but one that’s better for our fellow humans as well.”

But Mateer has no intention of stopping with fruit. As a certifiedB Corp company, Seal The Seasons is committed to using business as a force for good in the world by balancing profit and purpose. “We are on a mission to create a more localized food system and make local available in every aisle of the grocery store year-round.”

Still, it’s the personal interactions that inspire and motivate Mateer every day. “Sometimes letters will reference our customer’s childhoods when they picked local produce with their parents or had a summer job helping their local farm, personal stories of a time when food was more local, fresher, and so real. Thanks from our customers is proof we’re building a better local food system!”

Web exclusive recipe!

For a perfect ending to your Thanksgiving feast, try our Blueberry-Cornbread Cobbler made with Seal the Seasons blueberries.