[MPWG] Western NC & Surrounding Areas-Med Herb Buyers Looking for Growers Event

Jeanine Davis Jeanine_Davis at ncsu.edu
Mon Sep 9 10:47:43 CDT 2013


I am making one last big push to get the word out about this important
event. Because of increased demand, changes in federal laws (GMPs), poor
quality of many imports, and changing consumer interests, there is a very
large demand for U.S. grown medicinal herbs. In my 25 year career I have
never seen buyers so willing to work with growers to make it worth their
while to produce these plants. I'm talking about a wide variety of crops,
including field crops such as Echinacea, valerian, stinging nettle, and
California poppy and forest grown crops such as black cohosh, goldenseal,
bloodroot, and ginseng. 
So we are holding an event at the Haynes Conference Center on the AB-Tech
Enka campus (just outside Asheville, NC) on Saturday Sept. 14th for growers
and buyers to meet and talk. There will be a panel of buyers speaking and
then a panel of growers with plenty of time for everyone to interact and ask
questions. We ask buyers to bring lists of what they want to buy and growers
to bring lists of what they are growing or can grow. Some of the companies
represented will include Strategic Sourcing, Gardens of the Blue Ridge,
Botanics Trading, Botanical Supply, Red Moon Herbs, Gaia Herbs, and
SkinFare.
If you are the least bit interested in growing medicinal herbs, please make
every attempt to be at this event, or send a representative (I know it is
market day). And please pass this message on to others who might be
interested. This kind of opportunity will not come around anytime soon. I am
very excited about this because the number one question I get concerning
medicinal herbs is "Who can I sell these to?"
Here are the details. Note, you should pre-register so we can have a lunch
available and know how many to set up for:
What:   Blue Ridge Naturally Workshop: Connecting Medicinal Plant Growers
with Buyers
When:   September 14, 2013, 10 AM to 4 PM
Where:  AB Tech Enka Campus, Haynes Conference Center, Room 200 , 1459 Sand
Hill Rd. Candler, NC 28715
Cost:   $20 in advance; $25 at the door. Includes lunch catered by Gypsy
Queen
On-line Registration: https://blueridgenaturally.eventbrite.com/ or contact
Alison Dressler via email <mailto:alison_dressler at ncsu.edu>  or at
828-684-3562 x 150.
Directions:
http://www.abtech.edu/content/enka-conference-center/enka-conference-center-
driving-directions
Natural products manufacturers are looking for medicinal herb growers and
local medicinal herb growers are looking for buyers. But how do they find
each other? This event will help connect current and potential medicinal
plant growers with manufacturers and raw material buyers for the natural
products industry in North Carolina. It will feature panels of four new and
experienced medicinal herb growers and four natural products
buyers/manufacturers to discuss their unique experiences, challenges, goals,
and needs as it relates to natural products and raw materials. There will be
ample time for networking between growers and buyers. If you are a grower,
please bring a list of what you are growing, including quantities and what
form you can supply them in (fresh or dried). If you are a medicinal plant
buyer, please bring a list of what raw materials you want to source locally
and in what quantity and form you need them.
We will also discuss the new Blue Ridge Naturally
<http://www.blueridgenaturally.org/> TMbranding effort, created to raise the
awareness of the superiority of botanical raw materials and quality natural
products (personal care, pet care, cleaning, tinctures and supplements,
functional food and beverages) from the Blue Ridge Mountains region of North
Carolina.

If you are interested in becoming involved in the natural products industry
in Western North Carolina, this event is not to be missed! While the event
will focus on medicinal plant cultivation, wild-harvesters are welcome and
encouraged to attend.

If you would like to set-up a product or informational table for $10, please
contact Alison Dressler via email <mailto:Alison_dressler at ncsu.edu>  or at
828-684-3562 x 150.
This event is made possible by a grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation.
Project partners include AdvantageWest, Bent Creek Institute, BioNetwork,
Blue Ridge Food Ventures, NC Natural Products Association, NC State
University, SBTDC, and US Botanical Safety Laboratory


Jeanine M. Davis, Ph.D. 
Associate Professor and Extension Specialist 
Dept. of Horticultural Science, NC State University 
Email: Jeanine_Davis at ncsu.edu  <Jeanine_Davis at ncsu.edu%20> 
Websites:  http://ncherb.org <http://ncherb.org/>
http://ncspecialtycrops.org <http://ncspecialtycrops.org/>
http://ncorganic.org <http://ncorganic.org/>  
Blog:  http://ncalternativecropsandorganics.blogspot.com
<http://ncalternativecropsandorganics.blogspot.com/> 
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JeanineNCSU 
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Jeanine-Davis/1442912228
<http://www.facebook.com/people/Jeanine-Davis/1442912228>  
Address: Mtn. Hort. Crops Research & Extension Center 
455 Research Drive, Mills River, NC 28759 
Phone:  828-684-3562   FAX:  828-684-8715 


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