[MPWG] Growing Chinese Herbs

[Jean Giblette]

Hi Jack,

Thanks for your inquiry.

After working for 20 years on growing Chinese medicinal herbs and developing the market for domestic production, I have seen the action become localized in the form of grower-practitioner alliances.  I'm talking about agricultural products sold to licensed practitioners, not to the general public.  Right now there are three such groups, each led by licensed practitioners (LAcs) and their businesses.  

Several factors have led to this arrangement: (1) LAcs use herbs in traditional formulas and will not willingly alter their buying patterns unless presented with an array of at least two to three dozen herbs (that have been verified, tested and vetted), (2) no one grower can address such a market by him/herself, and (3) no one can predict the price of a perennial that takes 3-5 years or more to grow.  So these long-term producer-to-market relationships seems to be the best assurance we have that transactions will actually occur.

I might add one more factor.  A transaction between one grower and one LAc is like a tree that falls in the woods:  no one else is around to benefit from the knowledge gained.  This work is attracting people who want to undertake domestic production as a systematic, consensual process, i.e. a science.  The LAcs (collectively) have the training to evaluate the products, and they have the best incentive to make sure the herbs are properly vetted and efficacious.  They also have the authority (in many states) to cook the herbs according to traditional procedures before adding them to the formula.

Right now there is no group in Pennsylvania, but maybe there will be if sponsors step forward.  We are working as hard as we can to develop the organizational capacity to meet the interest from growers like you.

Jean Giblette

On Oct 27, 2014, at 3:54 PM, nachamkin wrote:

> Hello MPWG,
> 
> I have been growing small amounts of Chinese herbs for local restaurants and a Farmers Market. I would like to ramp up production on our farm and greenhouses but would need a market for full production. I would appreciate a lead to any group that could give me more information.
> 
> I am responding to the NPR program and mailing.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Jack Nachamkin, L&J Farm
> 51 Broomall Lane
> Glen Mills, PA 19342
> 610-455-3897
> jackn1 at verizon.net
> 
> 
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Jean Giblette, Owner
HIGH FALLS GARDENS
Box 125 Philmont NY 12565
518-672-7365, hfg at capital.net
www.highfallsgardens.net