[MPWG] History Channel's ‘Appalachian Outlaws’

[Edward Fletcher]

Bob,
 
It's unbelievable what they leave to be assumed between the lines during
this show once again. 
I also noticed that Georgia digger dug and sold his ginseng in the same
week, not enough time to properly dry, yet Tony Coffman said I can get you
$1,000 per lb (which is obviously dry root prices) but there were weighing
and showing fresh roots. Misleading to say the least.
 
They did slip one bit of ethical/sustainability in when one digger mentioned
that he wanted to leave some there for his son to dig after he was gone. I
was disappointed the way it ended, with the land owner getting trapped, in
his own trap, and not catching the thieves that were stealing his ginseng.
....he did have some creative methods of protection....

Genuinely,
Edward J. Fletcher    
Strategic Sourcing, Inc.
Botanical Division, C.O.O.
828.898.7642
Fax.898.7647
Efletcher at StrategicSourcingInc.net
www.StrategicSourcingInc.net


-----Original Message-----
From: "MPWG" <mpwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org> 
Sent: 1/16/2014 11:27 PM 
To: "Ford, Patricia" <patricia_ford at fws.gov>;
"mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org" <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.

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