Medicinal Herbs for Commerce

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Medicinal Herbs for Commerce

• A project to encourage the diversification of
  North Carolina Farms

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NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission NCDA CS Plant
Industry DivisionGolden LEAF FoundationNC Rural
Economic Development Center via the Land of Sky
Regional Council
This Project is Funded by
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Global retail consumption of medicinal herbs in
2001 Approximately 35 billion. Growth expected
to continue, reaching 200 billion by 2008.
California poppy
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Local meets Global Dynamics

• Tobacco acreage decline
• Agricultural expertise and infrastructure
• Local natural product businesses
• Abundance of native medicinal plants
• Trends toward natural healing and organics
• Increasingly global marketplace
• U.S. dollar favorable for foreign trade
• Increasing fuel costs

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Project Features

• Grower Selection
• Buyer Commitment
• Staff Support

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Grower Selection
Need to Diversify ---- Equipped for Success ----
Willing to Learn
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Cooperating Grower Responsibilities

• Field Journals
• Field Days
• Communication

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Buyer Commitment
One project buyer demonstrates the preferred
stage of plant growth for Echinacea purpurea
harvest.
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Buyer performs Organoleptic assessment (physical
appearance, aroma, and taste of the herb)
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Staff Support
Field Day in Lenoir County, 2004 One grower
explains using a bulk tobacco dryer for herbs.
Field Days Testing Production
Expertise Conference Calls Seed Extension
Agent Training Other Educational Opportunities
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California Poppy - Eschscholzia californica
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Echinacea purpurea
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Valerian - Valeriana officinalis
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2004 Production and Sales
2004 Production and Sales Results
Herb Acres Amts harvested sold (lbs) Price received per pound Sales
California Poppy 5.7 fresh tops 770 dried tops 1124 5.00 8.00 - 9.00 3,850 9,451
Dandelion 3.8 No harvest in 2004 No harvest in 2004 No harvest in 2004
Echinacea purpurea 9.2 dried tops 3574 1.96 7,007
Valerian 0.8 fresh root 1128 3.75 4,230
TOTALS 19.5 fresh dried 6,596 24,538
J. Davis and J. Greenfield, 2005.
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2005 Crops Added for Production

1. Boneset - Eupatorium perfoliatum
2. Catnip - Nepeta cataria
3. False Unicorn - Chamelirium lutem
4. German Chamomile Matricaria recutita
5. Round-headed Bush Clover - Lespedeza capitata
6. Skullcap - Scutelleria lateriflora
7. Black Cohosh Acetea racemosa

German Chamomile
False Unicorn
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Skullcap - Scutelleria lateriflora
Round-headed Bush Clover Lespedeza capitata
Black Cohosh Actea racemosa
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Even Distribution of Growers Across All Growing
Regions
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• Present Capabilities
• Make use of existing tobacco raising equipment
• Rudimentary post-harvest equipment
• The basic needs of crops are satisfied ORGANIC
• Future Directions
• Use of suitable equipment to improve yields
• Improved post-harvest equipment for quality
• Greater use of ORGANIC thru holistic approach

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Echinacea purpurea in production - 2004
Equipment used primarily for raising tobacco
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Tighter plant densities for higher yields
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More versatile equipment
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No more hand harvesting
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Equipment can take on much of the cleaning
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Hand washing - 2004
Theres got to be a better way!
Root washing equipment for faster results
better quality
Minimal investment can bring lasting and
profitable results
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Prototype dryer for mountains
Dryers with forced hot air
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Packaging that uses existing equipment to satisfy
buyers
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ORGANIC Klickatat Valley
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Hammermill
Dried Herb Chopper
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Cut Sifted, Powders
Teas
Extracted Tinctures
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Cooperative
Cooperative
Cooperative
North Carolina Medicinal Herbs Raw Materials
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Visit our website at www.ncspecialtycrops.org