Breeding vegetable crops for organic farming systems involves a different set of priorities than breeding for conventional farming systems. The organic breeding paradigm is to create a genetically elastic phenotype that displays heterotic vigor (especially cross-pollinated species), performs well under organic farming conditions, and is acceptable in the marketplace. If the breeding of these wide-based genetic populations is done under environmental challenges such as high levels of disease pressure, or heat and drought stress, then it is possible to maintain this genetic elasticity through the final varietal development. Examples of currently ongoing breeding projects will be given from four major crop groups - tomato, table beet, spinach, and squash - to demonstrate the efficacy of these organic breeding principles.