Ginseng: You Can Hunt It Or Grow It

Ginseng: You Can Hunt It Or Grow It CROPS Miscellaneous It may be awhile before wild ginseng sells for nearly $1 000/lb as it did in 2007 But hunting for it in the wild or cultivating it still provides profitable sideline income for many The fleshy rooted herb is highly prized by Asian cultures as an aphrodisiac and a cure for many health conditions and it s growing in popularity in the U S Ginseng grows primarily in China Korea and parts of North America east of the Mississippi Canada has banned digging wild ginseng and the herb has become more difficult to find in China In the U S digging wild ginseng is regulated The Appalachian Mountains region is a popular hunting spot though the herb can be found from Maine to Georgia Ginseng can be grown from seed in wooded areas or in open fields if structures are set up to provide shade WildGrown com is a good place to start for anyone interested in harvesting or cultivating ginseng The website includes regulations for 19 states dealers who buy the roots companies that sell seeds and plants and general information about ginseng and production WildGrown also buys ginseng We want to provide as much info as possible for people who dig and want to grow ginseng says Michael Lee manager It helps people so they get the right price They can find dealers and call around For those who want to dig ginseng he emphasizes the importance of knowing state regulations which include the seasons it can be dug late summer to fall ; deadlines for it to be sold which is often the end of March; and even good stewardship tips like the seeds in the berries of the ginseng should be planted wherever ginseng is dug Value of wild ginseng is determined by the age and shape Long fingerlike roots are less valuable than bowl-shaped ginseng Prices fluctuate every year from $300 to $1 000 per lb for dried ginseng about 3 lbs of fresh ginseng makes 1 lb dried ginseng There s also a market for green ginseng which people from Korea prefer The plants thrive in 70 to 80 percent shade and go dormant when conditions aren t ideal Hunters often find ginseng 5-25 years after timber has been cut in an area But it s found in many other locations as well It takes about 10 years for the roots to be ready to harvest Hunting or growing ginseng is a passion for many Lee notes that one of his sellers is 72 and has been digging roots since he was 10 With a strong export market to China and a growing market in the U S the demand for ginseng continues to be promising Contact: FARM SHOW Followup WildGrown com/National Ginseng LLC P O Box 103 Montgomery Penn 18936 ph 888 675-7264; www wildgrown com

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