Okra (Hibiscus esculentus L.) is a warm-season annual vegetable crop grown primarily for immature pods used in soups and stews. Okra is an amphidiploid (2n=130) with varieties displaying a tremendous variation in plant size, shape, pod type, and color. Current breeding programs are focused on improving pod yield and disease resistance in vegetable production. As the Midwest deals with soybean cyst nematode and the new threat of Asian rust, farmers are looking for viable alternatives to soybean production especially for organic markets. Current okra vegetable varieties display similar oil and protein profiles to that of soybeans (21% oil and 25% protein) with comparable seed yields. Okra seed is also similar in size to soybeans and can be handled with much of the same equipment and is not susceptible to soybean cyst nematodes and the Asian rust pathogens. The objective of our study was to investigate commercial okra varieties and USDA accessions for seed production in the Midwest. Replicated trails were conducted for two years to assess the current lines for possible beneficial seed production traits. Traits included: days to flowering, reduced plant height, non-branching, large pod and seed size, and reduced shattering of mature pods. The USDA accessions displayed incredible variation in most traits indicating the possibility of creating highly productive non-shattering okra varieties. Most vegetable varieties already have many of the necessary traits including disease resistance. A current limitation in bulk okra production is seed dormancy. To improve the uniformity of okra seed germination on a large scale, physical and chemical pre-treatments were also tested. With only minor breeding adjustments, okra could potentially serve as an alternative option for soybean growers who are currently struggling with increasing disease pressures.