Ginseng - Who to sell to?
So, I've been contemplating growing ginseng naturally/wildly (ie: planted in its natural habitat and left to mature 7-12 years with no aid or interference).
In Ontario Canada it is illegal to harvest and sell wild ginseng, however, it is legal to plant and raise commercially purchased ginseng seeds and sell the harvested roots. By all credible accounts, commercial ginseng - when raised in this manner - is indistinguishable from wild ginseng by all but the worlds' greatest ginseng experts.
To be honest, i've done more than think about it... I've invested in 5000 insured ginseng seeds. I am not personally familiar with these plants or the best way to raise them. I hear that they're really in demand in the US, even spawning TV shows and murderous turf wars and poaching battles, but up here it's essentially an ignored crop, despite Ontario Ginseng being considered some of the best in the world.
I'm willing to just take a shot and plant them - i have a horticulturalist/herbalist lined up to help with eventual harvesting & drying - but i'm totally unsure of who you sell these roots to once they're ready?
I've seen farmer market vendors selling choice roots for incredible amounts, but they only move 1 or 2 plants per year, not able to handle the 1500 plants per year x 2 years I'd expect to get from my crop.
Any suggestions? I'd imagine that if i want to sell to a larger corp in the agri-business there's all sorts of hoops i'd have to jump through, right?
