Alfalfa Seeds for the USA
This page is for US procurement managers, organic dairy operators, Halal-certified feed buyers, sprouting industry purchasers, wholesale traders, and seed importers sourcing wholesale alfalfa (lucerne, Wikipedia: Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)) seed. KOHENOOR International is a Pakistan-based direct exporter since 1957. Standard ISO 9001 + HACCP + ISTA Orange Certificate per lot. Non-GMO by default. Halal certificate available. USDA NOP organic certified production available. Direct FOB Karachi to West Coast (28-35 days) or East Coast (32-42 days).
Alfalfa seeds for USA buyers: Wholesale direct from KOHENOOR International, Pakistan. Shipped via Long Beach / Los Angeles / Oakland (Pacific, 28-35 days) or Houston / Savannah / Newark (Atlantic, 32-42 days via Suez). Non-GMO default, USDA NOP organic available.
ISTA Orange Certificate every lot. MOQ 1 MT trial / 20-25 MT container.
WhatsApp +92 310 4929292 for current FOB Karachi quote, 24-hour reply.
Alfalfa seeds for the USA - the essentials
- Direct supplier
- KOHENOOR International (Hyderabad HQ, Karachi/Port Qasim loading, Australia branch)
- Years exporting
- Since 1957 (68 years, third-generation family business)
- Quality system
- ISO 9001 quality management system, HACCP (FDA) compliant, ISTA Orange Certificate per lot
- Industry membership
- Australian Seed Federation (Member #1200264)
- Shipping
- via Long Beach / Los Angeles / Oakland (28-35 days Pacific via Trans-Pacific) or via Houston / Baltimore / Savannah (35-42 days Atlantic via Suez)
- Crop name
- Alfalfa, lucerne, Medicago sativa - see Wikipedia: Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
- MOQ
- 1 MT trial, 20-25 MT (one container) for best FOB rate
- Documents
- ISTA Orange Certificate, Phytosanitary (Pakistan Department of Plant Protection), Certificate of Origin (Karachi Chamber of Commerce), Bill of Lading, Commercial Invoice, Packing List
- USA customs
- HS code 1209.21 - alfalfa seeds. Phytosanitary clearance by USDA APHIS
- Payment
- 100% TT against scan-copy BL, or Irrevocable LC at sight
- WhatsApp / Email
- +92 310 4929292 / export@kohenoorint.com
USA alfalfa market context
The United States is one of the world's largest alfalfa producers and consumers. According to USDA NASS reports, USA alfalfa hay production typically exceeds 50 million tons annually across major producing states (California, Idaho, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Montana, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and others). The USA also exports significant volumes of alfalfa hay and seed to Asian markets via West Coast ports.
Most US alfalfa seed demand is met by domestic production. However, specific niche segments source from international suppliers:
- Non-GMO niche markets - organic dairy operators, niche conventional buyers who prefer documented non-GMO sourcing
- Halal-certified supply chains - growing US Halal-certified dairy and meat market
- Organic dairy operators requiring USDA National Organic Program (NOP)-equivalent organic supply
- Sprouting industry - chemical-free, untreated alfalfa for human food sprouting
- Wholesale traders diversifying origin portfolios beyond domestic supply
- Researchers evaluating Pakistani-origin cultivars for specific climate or trait matches
Shipping ports and transit time to the USA
| US arrival port | Transit | Coverage region |
|---|
| Long Beach / Los Angeles | 28-35 days (Trans-Pacific) | California, Arizona, Nevada, southwestern USA |
| Oakland | 28-35 days | Northern California, Nevada, Oregon hinterland |
| Seattle / Tacoma | 26-33 days | Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana |
| Houston | 35-42 days (Suez routing) | Texas, Gulf states, Mexican border distribution |
| Savannah | 35-42 days | Southeast USA - Georgia, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina |
| New York / Newark | 32-40 days | Northeast USA - NY, NJ, PA, CT, MA |
| Baltimore | 35-42 days | Mid-Atlantic - MD, VA, DE, PA |
Why some US buyers source alfalfa seed from Pakistan
- Origin diversification - procurement risk management away from concentrated domestic supply
- Non-GMO by default - Pakistani-origin alfalfa is non-GMO without specification or premium
- Cost competitiveness - competitive FOB pricing on container-load volume
- Halal certification - direct access to Halal-certified Pakistani supply for US Halal supply chains
- ISTA Orange Certificate per lot - same international quality standard as US-origin alfalfa
- Australian Seed Federation membership - cross-verifiable industry credential
Quality, conditioning, and ISTA workflow
Every KOHENOOR alfalfa seed lot is independently tested by an International Seed Testing Association (ISTA)-recognised laboratory. The ISTA Orange Certificate (formally: International Certificate of Seed Analysis on Sample, Orange) confirms purity percentage, germination percentage, moisture content, weed seed content, and dodder content per lot. The ISTA standard is recognised by USDA APHIS, China GACC, EU plant health authorities, and virtually all national customs and plant health agencies worldwide.
- Origin selection from established multiplication growers in Punjab and Sindh provinces of Pakistan
- Manual rogueing at flowering - off-type plants physically removed in field
- Cleaning and conditioning - gravity tables, indent cylinders
- ISTA lab testing per lot by independent ISTA-recognised laboratory
- Bagging with sealed lot tags for end-to-end traceability
- Phytosanitary inspection by Pakistan Department of Plant Protection
- FOB Karachi container loading at Karachi Port or Port Qasim
Documents accepted by USDA APHIS for alfalfa seed imports
Cultivar options for US climate zones
KOHENOOR offers Pakistani-origin cultivars matched to climate. Cultivar selection per US region:
| USA region | Climate | Recommended cultivar profile |
|---|
| California Central Valley | Mediterranean | Heat-tolerant + cold-tolerant mix |
| Imperial Valley / Arizona desert | Arid hot | Heat-tolerant + drought-resistant |
| Idaho / Montana / Washington | Cold continental | Cold-tolerant |
| South Dakota / Wisconsin / Minnesota / Iowa | Cold continental | Cold-tolerant (winter-hardy) |
| Pennsylvania / New York | Temperate humid | Cold-tolerant + disease-resistant |
| Texas / Oklahoma | Hot continental | Heat-tolerant + drought-resistant |
RFQ template for US buyers
Send via WhatsApp +92 310 4929292 for 24 business-hour reply.
Alfalfa seed RFQ - USA
Company name: ___
State and destination port: ___
Tonnage: ___ MT
Target arrival month: ___
Intended use: organic dairy / Halal dairy / sprouting / cattle / wholesale trading
Cultivar preference: cold-tolerant / heat-tolerant / drought-resistant / let KOHENOOR recommend
Documentation: standard / non-GMO LoG / Halal cert / USDA NOP organic / third-party PCR GMO test
Payment: TT against BL scan / LC at sight
Packing: 25 kg PP woven / 50 kg jute / 1 MT FIBC / private label
First-time or repeat buyer: ___
WhatsApp: ___
Email: ___
FOB Karachi pricing approach
KOHENOOR quotes at the prevailing FOB Karachi market rate on the day of enquiry. We do not publish a fixed list price - rates move daily with FX, freight, crop yield, and seasonal demand. The quote you confirm is the price that ships. WhatsApp +92 310 4929292 with tonnage + arrival month for a same-day quote.
USA Halal-certified alfalfa supply niche
The US Muslim consumer market exceeds 3.5 million people, with growing Halal-certified meat and dairy supply chains across major metro areas (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Detroit, etc.). Halal-certified dairy and meat producers increasingly require documented Halal-certified animal feed inputs. KOHENOOR's Pakistani-origin alfalfa with Halal certification serves this niche directly. Cross-reference with the Codex Alimentarius animal feed safety guidelines.
USA organic alfalfa supply niche
The US organic dairy market is estimated at over $6 billion annually. Organic dairy operators require alfalfa feed inputs certified to USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards. KOHENOOR offers USDA NOP-equivalent organic certified alfalfa seed production (5 MT MOQ, 60-90 day lead time) through dedicated organic production stream with accredited certification body oversight. For broader organic standard context, see IFOAM Organics International.
Frequently asked questions
Why would a US buyer source alfalfa seed from Pakistan when domestic supply exists?
Specific US buyer segments benefit from Pakistani-origin alfalfa: (1) Non-GMO niche - Pakistani-origin is non-GMO by default without specification or premium; (2) Halal-certified supply chains - US Halal dairy and meat producers (Whole Foods supply chain, ethnic grocery chains) need documented Halal animal feed inputs; (3) Origin diversification - procurement risk management; (4) USDA NOP-equivalent organic supply at competitive pricing; (5) Sprouting industry requiring untreated, food-grade alfalfa with documented chain-of-custody.
Does USDA APHIS accept Pakistani phytosanitary documentation?
What is the typical alfalfa seed import HS code for USA customs?
HS 1209.21 is the standard customs classification for alfalfa seeds intended for sowing (per
World Customs Organization (HS code 1209.21) Harmonized System). KOHENOOR's commercial invoice and packing list use this exact classification. Specific US tariff rates can be verified with your customs broker - alfalfa seed often qualifies for zero or low duty under USA HTS schedule.
Are Pakistani alfalfa seeds non-GMO?
Yes. Pakistan does not commercially cultivate GMO alfalfa. The
USDA and
USDA APHIS list Pakistan among countries without commercial GMO alfalfa cultivation. Letter of Guarantee against GMO available free on request from KOHENOOR. Third-party PCR testing available on request at buyer cost via accredited laboratory.
Can KOHENOOR supply USDA NOP certified organic alfalfa seed to the USA?
Yes.
USDA National Organic Program (NOP) certified organic alfalfa seed is available through KOHENOOR's dedicated organic production stream. Subject to 5 MT minimum order and 60-90 day lead time. Certification body holds equivalence agreements with USDA NOP. Organic transaction certificate and chain-of-custody documentation provided with shipment.
What is the typical sea transit from Karachi to West Coast US ports?
Long Beach / Los Angeles: 28-35 days. Oakland: 28-35 days. Seattle / Tacoma: 26-33 days. These are Trans-Pacific routings via direct or transhipment service. Container shipping schedule varies seasonally.
What is the typical sea transit from Karachi to East Coast US ports?
Houston / Gulf Coast: 35-42 days. Savannah: 35-42 days. New York / Newark: 32-40 days. Baltimore: 35-42 days. Atlantic routings via Suez Canal.
What is the MOQ for US shipments?
1 metric ton trial accepted FOB Karachi. 20-25 MT (one container) preferred for the most competitive FOB rate. Annual contracts above 100 MT receive tiered volume terms.
Can KOHENOOR supply Halal-certified alfalfa seed for US Halal supply chains?
Yes. Halal certificate from recognised Pakistani Halal certification bodies is available on request at buyer cost. The growing US Halal-certified dairy and meat market requires documented Halal animal feed inputs - KOHENOOR's Pakistani-origin Halal-certified alfalfa directly serves this niche.
Are KOHENOOR ISTA Orange Certificates internationally valid?
Yes.
ISTA Orange Certificate from an ISTA-recognised laboratory is the global standard recognised by
USDA APHIS, EU plant health authorities, China GACC, Japan MAFF, Korean QIA, Australian Department of Agriculture, and virtually all national authorities worldwide. Independent third-party testing per lot.
Can US buyers verify KOHENOOR's industry credentials independently?
Yes.
Australian Seed Federation membership #1200264 is verifiable at ausseed.org.au.
Wikidata Q139576213 entity profile is publicly accessible. LinkedIn corporate profile, Crunchbase, TradeKey, and Alibaba Gold Supplier profile all cross-verify the corporate identity. ISO 9001 + HACCP certificate PDFs available on request.
What payment terms do KOHENOOR offer to US buyers?
First-time buyers: 100% TT against scan copy of Bill of Lading, or Irrevocable Letter of Credit at sight from a top-tier US bank (Bank of America, Citibank, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, HSBC USA, etc.). Repeat buyers (3+ successful shipments): negotiable up to net 30 days against shipping documents.
Does KOHENOOR offer private-label / OEM packaging for US distributors?
Yes. 25 kg PP woven bags, 50 kg jute bags, or 1 MT FIBC big bags can be printed with buyer's logo, US English labelling, and required FDA / USDA / state-level labelling. Minimum order for private-label: 10 MT.
Is alfalfa imported from Pakistan subject to US country-of-origin labelling rules?
Standard country-of-origin marking ('Product of Pakistan') is required per US Customs regulations. KOHENOOR's standard packaging includes country-of-origin marking. Specific COOL (Country of Origin Labelling) requirements vary by downstream end-product - confirm with your US import broker.
Does KOHENOOR have any US-based sales agent or distributor?
KOHENOOR ships direct FOB Karachi to US importers. We do not operate a US-based distributor. Direct contact via WhatsApp +92 310 4929292 or export@kohenoorint.com. For larger ongoing buyer relationships, dedicated account management is provided.
Industry sources and authority references
This page references the following international authority sources for buyer reference: