[MPWG] History Channel's 'Appalachian Outlaws'

[Jeanine Davis]

And it is because of ridiculous comments like that, $1000 per pound for
green ginseng, that I can no longer answer my telephone. I now screen every
phone call because I am getting dozens of them every day from people around
the country who think they are going to get rich from ginseng. And they
don't believe me, or get aggravated with me, when I give them the truth, so
they are not pleasant conversations. Urgh.  Jeanine

 

Jeanine M. Davis, Ph.D. 
Associate Professor and Extension Specialist 
Dept. of Horticultural Science, NC State University 
Email: Jeanine_Davis at ncsu.edu 
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 

 

From: MPWG [mailto:mpwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org] On Behalf Of
Robert Layton Beyfuss
Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2014 11:27 PM
To: Ford, Patricia; mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org
Subject: Re: [MPWG] History Channel's 'Appalachian Outlaws'

 

Just watched episode 2 of A.O. For a "reality" show, they are not even close
when it comes to the prices they claim to pay diggers. $1,000 a pound green
weight is ridiculous.  

 

From: MPWG [mailto:mpwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org] On Behalf Of
Ford, Patricia
Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2014 3:57 PM
To: mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org
Subject: [MPWG] History Channel's 'Appalachian Outlaws'

 

The History Channel ( <http://www.history.com/> http://www.history.com/)
aired a new program called 'Appalachian Outlaws' on January 9, 2014, with
two more episodes scheduled for Jan. 16th and 22nd, about a group of
American ginseng diggers and buyers.  Many members of the MPWG listserve
have reported that the program glorifies illegal harvest of American ginseng
(Panax quinquefolius) by showing diggers blatantly trespassing on public and
private lands and harvesting under-age ginseng plants.  Additionally, the
United Plant Savers and the American Herbal Products Association have
publicly come out against the program. 

 

State regulations for the harvest and buying of wild American ginseng are
designed to ensure that ginseng roots are legally and sustainable harvested.
The harvest of ginseng plants that are too young (plants with fewer than 3
compound leaves/prongs and under 5 years of age), plants with green fruits,
and harvesting too many plants, could wipe out wild American ginseng and
lead to the collapse of this multi-million dollar industry. 

 

Poaching ginseng from public and private property should not be encouraged
and it is illegal punishable by State and Federal laws.  Protected lands
where ginseng harvest is not permitted, such as State lands, National Parks
and some U.S. Forest Service lands, provide necessary refugia which helps to
safeguard the long-term survival of this species into the future.  The right
to own land is one of the most valued rights of Americans, poaching ginseng
from private property deprives the rightful landowner income from their
lands.

 

Last week, when we learned of the program, we, the U.S., Fish and Wildlife
Service, contacted the History Channel about the program and sent them
relevant information about the State/Federal management of American ginseng,
and our key messages were posted on the program's website at:
<http://www.history.com/shows/appalachian-outlaws/articles/ginseng-facts>
http://www.history.com/shows/appalachian-outlaws/articles/ginseng-facts.  We
hope to expand our involvement with the History Channel to urge them to
incorporate information about the importance of sustainable and legal
harvest, and that there are responsible diggers that practice and encourage
good stewardship harvest of wild American ginseng.  

 

The parent company of the History Channel is AE Network.  Feedback on the
program can be sent to aefeedback at aenetworks.com.  Or to A&E Television
Networks, 235 East 45th Street, New York, New York 10017; or phone or fax
the network at: 212-210-1400 (phone) or 212-210-9016 (fax).

 

To learn more about the legal harvest and trade of American ginseng, please
visit:  <http://www.fws.gov/international/plants/american-ginseng.html>
http://www.fws.gov/international/plants/american-ginseng.html;
<http://www.ahpa.org/Default.aspx?tabid=154>
http://www.ahpa.org/Default.aspx?tabid=154, and contact your State agency
that manages ginseng.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.plantconservation.org/pipermail/mpwg_lists.plantconservation.org/attachments/20140117/4be2fbb4/attachment.html>