Ginseng: growers.

Newsgroups: alt.folklore.herbs
Subject: Re: GINSENG
From: behlert.nyx.cs.du.edu (Brian Ehlert)
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 94 12:27:54 GMT

>Is there anyone out there who really grows ginseng in this country anymore? I thought the market might have died out around the turn of the century. It is really slow and hard to grow as I understand

There are probably 10 to 15 ginseng growers around the state of Michigan. I don't know any of them personally, but I know of one fairly close to me in South East Michigan.

It is a pretty good business here. They only grow American Ginseng (not Siberian or Korean). Most grow for larger companies that do all the processing. I have heard that the market is very picky and will pay big bucks for a quality root.

One way to sell is through a broker another is through an open market. The broker guarantees you a sale and the market you can set a price (within reason). But just because there is a market don't think they can get what they want for it, only what a buyer will pay, depending on quality and condition of the roots.

But, to answer your question, there are many ginseng growers in the states.

BrianE

From: Conrad Richter <71550.3411.CompuServe.COM>

Ginseng is now a $100+ million business in North America. Besides Wisconsin, Michigan and other states, it is a significant crop in Ontario and British Columbia. Almost exclusively Panax quinquifolius, the American ginseng, is grown, mainly for export to the Orient.

Conrad Richter