[MPWG] Question: Production Plantations in Poland - Hamamelis virginiana

[Terressentials]

Hi, Penny.

I am thinking that you should initiate a communication with the US Dept.
of
Commerce.  They assist businesses with importing and exporting of goods
and they have people there who are available to help small businesses.
Perhaps someone there might be interested in helping you locate the data
that you are seeking.

The Commerce Dept. keeps records on trade and maybe they have botanical
trading info...just a thought.

If I think of any other possible avenues of exploration, I'll let you
know.

Best of luck,

Diana




----- Original message -----
From: "Goods From The Woods" <penny at pinenut.com>
To: mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org
Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:41:19 -0500
Subject: [MPWG] Question: Production Plantations in Poland - Hamamelis 
virginiana

Hamamelis virginiana is an indigenous plant to the U.S. and we are USDA
certified organic wild crop producers of the species. I recently did a
survey of on line botanical sellers offering certified witch hazel and
found it was all coming out of Poland. When I inquired with a major US
broker, I was told they had huge plantations of it in Poland. I emailed
several Polish exporters, the  agricultural agencies and the Consulate
to no avail. Could anyone assist in locating these "huge organic
certified Polish plantations?"

As an aside, many of common native American species are on the U.S.
certified organic market as Polish or Hungarian imports. While there
does seem to be a good deal of organic agriculture producing medicinal
plants in Poland, I am surprised by the sheer number of native medicinal
species reported as organically cultivated  in Poland and imported to
the U.S. as organic material. The certified organic market is THE market
for native botanicals.

Thus, ny second question:  Is there any research on U.S. imports of
medicinal plants. I have used several trade data bases both public and
private search services without much luck.  Seeing that the U.S. market
for medicinal plants is being met with so many imported botanicals, it
gives me pause to think about our need to consider American medicinal
species harvest safeguards.  What if it not an issue, as the market
might be met by imports, rather than wild American harvest?

Thank you, Penny Frazier A Wild Crops Farm



_______________________________________________
PCA's Medicinal Plant Working Group mailing list
MPWG at lists.plantconservation.org
http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/mpwg_lists.plantconservation.org

To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to MPWG-
request at lists.plantconservation.org with the word "unsubscribe" in the
subject line.

Disclaimer Any advice given on this list regarding diagnosis or
treatments etc. reflects ONLY the opinion of the individual who posts
the message. The information contained in posts is not intended nor
implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice relative to
your specific medical condition or question. All medical and other
healthcare information that is discussed on this list should be
carefully reviewed by the individual reader and their qualified
healthcare professional. Posts do not reflect any official opinions or
positions of the Plant
Conservation Alliance.