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<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT color=#008200 size=4 face="MS Mincho">Hello
Roy,</FONT></EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT color=#008200 size=4
face="MS Mincho"></FONT></EM></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT color=#008200 size=4 face="MS Mincho">Documenting by the
dealers is a little different in each state, but at the least the dealer has to
document from whom they buy the ginseng from, the date of purchase, the
condition dry or fresh, the weight, the state and county where it was harvested.
In North Carolina we have to also see their Drivers License and write their
number down along with their address and ask for a phone number. So there is a
very well documented paper trail for all purchases.</FONT></EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT color=#008200 size=4
face="MS Mincho"></FONT></EM></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT color=#008200 size=4 face="MS Mincho">I agree there are
rules in place and these need to be enforced & punished on the law breakers
so those who harvest legally are not unduly punished.
</FONT></EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT color=#008200 size=4
face="MS Mincho"><BR>Genuinely,<BR>Edward J. Fletcher
<BR>Strategic Sourcing, Inc.<BR>Botanical Division,
C.O.O.<BR>828.898.7642<BR>Fax.898.7647<BR><A
href="mailto:Efletcher@StrategicSourcingInc.net">Efletcher@StrategicSourcingInc.net</A><BR><A
href="http://www.StrategicSourcingInc.net">www.StrategicSourcingInc.net</A><BR></FONT></EM></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
"herbal@got.net" <herbal@got.net> <BR><B>Sent:</B> 1/12/2014 9:36 PM
<BR><B>To:</B> "Edward Fletcher" <efletcher@StrategicSourcingInc.net>
<BR><B>Cc:</B> "Jeanine Davis" <jeanine_davis@ncsu.edu>; "Ikhlas Khan"
<ikhan@olemiss.edu>; "Mark Blumenthal" <Mark@herbalgram.org>;
"Stefan Gafner" <stefan@herbalgram.org>;
"mpwg@lists.plantconservation.org" <mpwg@lists.plantconservation.org>
<BR><B>Subject:</B> RE: [MPWG] ginseng poaching program
<BR><BR></FONT></DIV><BR></FONT></DIV><!-- Converted from text/plain format -->
<P><FONT size=2>Hi All,<BR><BR>Just thought I would add a few thoughts. As a
number of folks have <BR>said, this film captures only a part of the
wildcrafting story. <BR>Unfortunately,I do think it reflects a real part
of the wildcrafting <BR>community, albeit not the whole wildcrafting
community. The fact that <BR>the few gents shown represent a big part of
the total tonnage of Amer <BR>ginseng that is collected is something
worthy of acknowledging. That <BR>individual wildcrafters, such as the
gent poaching on federal lands <BR>and the others on private property are
trying to put food on their <BR>table and simply not caring about the
environment or propriety of <BR>doing it in a sustainable way. The
brokers and dealers also reflect a <BR>desire to "get every bit of it
that is out there", put competitors out <BR>of business, and simply get
their piece of the pie with no <BR>consciousness or caring. Cape cod
fishermen are the same; they <BR>basically say they want to get what they
can while they can and that <BR>is about it. This puts those wanting to
do it the right way at a <BR>disadvantage, artificially drives costs up
or down, and undermines <BR>efforts to promote a consciousness of
sustainability. To me, for <BR>threatened species there should be a paper
trail required for all <BR>those brokers, how much they got from who,e
and document that all <BR>material harvested was done legally. The
"disabled" guy clearly should <BR>be penalized just with the evidence
this documentary provides; that he <BR>is probably collecting some type
of disability while he has the <BR>ability to trek all over the
Appalacians and his clear knowledge that <BR>he is doing it illegally.
Unfortunately, all the education in the <BR>world will not stop folks
like him from getting what they can, when <BR>they can, and however they
can and threaten the entire tradition of <BR>wildcrafting. The only
solution is to go after those types with <BR>penalties and also focus on
the brokers of illegally obtained <BR>material. I expect documenting
sources either is not part of the <BR>ginseng requirements for brokers or
it is simply not enforced.<BR><BR>I am looking forward to the second segment,
more hoping that the gent <BR>will be caught (never thought I would say
something like that about a <BR>wildcrafter) and that there would be
something good would come by <BR>deterring inappropriate non-sustainable
practices.<BR><BR>Roy<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>On Sun Jan 12
18:12:13 2014, Edward
Fletcher <BR><efletcher@StrategicSourcingInc.net>
wrote:<BR><BR>> This show sensationalizes the fringe element of the ginseng
industry, NOT<BR>> the true 'wild crafters' and long heritage of one of our
American botanical<BR>> treasures. But then why would 'they' want to make a
show that depicts lawful<BR>> and ethical people who are just trying to put
shoes on their children's feet<BR>> and food on the
table....<BR>><BR>> Just as Russ, I was shocked that they showed Actaea
pachypoda and called it<BR>> 'black cohosh'. This shows just how deep and
thorough they researched their<BR>> subject matter before filming! How can
we make them retract and/or correct<BR>> this possibly dangerous flagrant
inaccuracy.<BR>><BR>> Genuinely,<BR>> Edward J. Fletcher<BR>>
Strategic Sourcing, Inc.<BR>> Botanical Division, C.O.O.<BR>>
828.898.7642<BR>> Fax.898.7647<BR>>
Efletcher@StrategicSourcingInc.net<BR>> <A
href="http://www.StrategicSourcingInc.net">www.StrategicSourcingInc.net</A><BR>><BR>><BR>>
-----Original Message-----<BR>> From: "MPWG"
<mpwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org><BR>> Sent: 1/10/2014 4:47
PM<BR>> To: "Jeanine Davis" <Jeanine_Davis@ncsu.edu><BR>> Cc:
"Ikhlas Khan" <ikhan@olemiss.edu>; "Mark Blumenthal"<BR>>
<Mark@herbalgram.org>; "Stefan Gafner"
<stefan@herbalgram.org>;<BR>> "MPWG@lists.plantconservation.org"
<MPWG@lists.plantconservation.org><BR>> Subject: Re: [MPWG] ginseng
poaching program<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>> Very sobering. Like the
fishermen in Cape Cod. No regard for the future, for<BR>> the land, or for
anything other than an instant buck. Very sad.--Roy<BR>><BR>><BR>> On
Jan 10, 2014, at 7:59 AM, Jeanine Davis wrote:<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>>
This is all so frustrating. And it is discouraging forest landowners
from<BR>> planting wild-simulated ginseng because they are afraid with all
this<BR>> publicity it is in even greater danger of being poached.
Jeanine<BR>><BR>> Jeanine M. Davis, Ph.D.<BR>> Associate Professor
and Extension Specialist<BR>> Dept. of Horticultural Science, NC State
University<BR>> Email: Jeanine_Davis@ncsu.edu
<x-msg://157/Jeanine_Davis@ncsu.edu%20><BR>> Websites: <A
href="http://ncherb.org">http://ncherb.org</A> <<A
href="http://ncherb.org/">http://ncherb.org/</A>><BR>> <A
href="http://ncspecialtycrops.org">http://ncspecialtycrops.org</A> <<A
href="http://ncspecialtycrops.org/">http://ncspecialtycrops.org/</A>><BR>>
<A href="http://ncorganic.org">http://ncorganic.org</A> <<A
href="http://ncorganic.org/">http://ncorganic.org/</A>><BR>> Blog:
<A
href="http://ncalternativecropsandorganics.blogspot.com">http://ncalternativecropsandorganics.blogspot.com</A><BR>>
<<A
href="http://ncalternativecropsandorganics.blogspot.com/">http://ncalternativecropsandorganics.blogspot.com/</A>><BR>>
Twitter: <A
href="http://twitter.com/JeanineNCSU">http://twitter.com/JeanineNCSU</A><BR>>
Facebook: <<A
href="http://www.facebook.com/people/Jeanine-Davis/1442912228">http://www.facebook.com/people/Jeanine-Davis/1442912228</A>><BR>>
<A
href="http://www.facebook.com/people/Jeanine-Davis/1442912228">http://www.facebook.com/people/Jeanine-Davis/1442912228</A><BR>>
Address: Mtn. Hort. Crops Research & Extension Center<BR>> 455 Research
Drive, Mills River, NC 28759<BR>> Phone: 828-684-3562
FAX: 828-684-8715<BR>><BR>> From: MPWG [<A
href="mailto:mpwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org">mailto:mpwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org</A>]
On Behalf Of<BR>> Susan Leopold<BR>> Sent: Friday, January 10, 2014
10:47 AM<BR>> To: ForestRuss@aol.com<BR>> Cc:
MPWG@lists.plantconservation.org<BR>> Subject: Re: [MPWG] ginseng poaching
program<BR>><BR>> Thank you Russ for pointing out the information of
wrong identification,<BR>> which sets the stage for the show and possibly
more of its kind in the<BR>> works. I personally think it is horrific to
have a ginseng show that<BR>> glorifies poaching and all the illegal
activity that took place in this show<BR>> to continue with no
consequences. If is was a show about poaching a<BR>> protected animal
I wonder how the public would react?<BR>><BR>> I think this quote from
the main ginseng dealers sums up how plants are<BR>> perceived.. see quote
and link below.<BR>><BR>> UpS has released a formal press release
warning the History Channel about<BR>> the dangers of promoting poaching of
a threatened species...<BR>><BR>> "its a protected species, but I
don't know why. Its a plant'<BR>> <A
href="http://www.register-herald.com/local/x1956140531/New-reality-show-focuses-on">http://www.register-herald.com/local/x1956140531/New-reality-show-focuses-on</A><BR>>
-state-ginseng-business<BR>> <A
href="http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2013/12/25/new-reality-show-focuses-on-west-v">http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2013/12/25/new-reality-show-focuses-on-west-v</A><BR>>
irginia-ginseng-business/<BR>><BR>> On Jan 10, 2014, at 10:19 AM,
ForestRuss@aol.com wrote:<BR>><BR>><BR>> MPWG:<BR>><BR>> A new
program had its debut on History Channel yesterday 01/09/14
called<BR>> "Appalachian Outlaws.<BR>><BR>> The program appears to be
more about the being a ginseng poacher than almost<BR>> anything else and I
am uncertain how it could impact ginseng<BR>> growers...beyond making theft
a thrill game.<BR>><BR>> One concern I have as a long time grower of
black Cohosh in a forest setting<BR>> is that one of the poachers already
has identified "dolls eye", Actaea<BR>> pachypoda, as black Cohosh, a
very incorrect ID. They made a point of<BR>> showing the fruit and
the foliage.<BR>><BR>> As a grower of the medicinal black Cohosh plant I
think that in 2014 black<BR>> Cohosh root buyers might have to be more
vigilant in vetting their purchases<BR>> to make sure they aren't getting
poison.<BR>><BR>> I would appreciate other peoples' thoughts or comments
on the program<BR>><BR>> Sincerely,<BR>><BR>> Russ Richardson,
Certified Forester<BR>><BR>><BR>>
_______________________________________________<BR>> PCA's Medicinal Plant
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opinion of the individual who posts the message. The<BR>> information
contained in posts is not intended nor implied to be a<BR>> substitute for
professional medical advice relative to your specific medical<BR>>
condition or question. All medical and other healthcare information that
is<BR>> discussed on this list should be carefully reviewed by the
individual reader<BR>> and their qualified healthcare professional. Posts
do not reflect any<BR>> official opinions or positions of the Plant
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