The Medicinal Herbs for Commerce project is part of the North Carolina Specialty Crops Program, a cooperative effort of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University and the Marketing Division of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. It is based at N.C. State’s Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center in Fletcher.
Applications are being accepted from farmers interested in participating in the second year of the project.
Farmers who are selected must agree to meet with the project coordinator at their farms as necessary, maintain production records through the course of the project, keep accurate financial records and receipts for the development of budgets and be willing to host a field day for other growers and extension agents.
In return, growers will get agricultural, technical, and direct marketing assistance plus the seeds necessary to produce and market top-quality medicinal herbs. Project staff will also help growers contact buyers and market herbs.
Farmers from throughout North Carolina are eligible to participate. While all types of farmers are eligible, the project is geared toward tobacco growers and developing medicinal herbs as an alternative crop for tobacco.
Thirty farmers will be selected. They must agree to grow at least an acre of herbs. Applications must be postmarked by May 15. More information and applications are available on line at http://ncherb.org. Information is also available from Woody Woodward, project coordinator, at (828) 684-3562, or by e-mail at woody_woodward@ncsu.edu.
The project began in March 2004 with funding from the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission and the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. This year the project is funded by the Tobacco Trust Fund, Golden LEAF and the North Carolina Rural Center.
Last year, 17 growers from 15 counties grew purple coneflower, California poppy, valerian and dandelions. The crops were chosen for their market potential and compatibility with existing tobacco cultivation equipment.
“We were looking for new crops for tobacco growers that didn’t require expensive inputs and could use existing resources,” said Dr. Jeanine Davis, associate professor of horticultural science at N.C. State and North Carolina Cooperative Extension specialist. Davis is the project director and specialty crops program coordinator.
“I didn’t have to buy any equipment for this project,” said cooperating farmer Peggy Garrett of Person County.
Most growers were able to simply plug a different crop into their tried-and-true production systems.
“I had been looking for something to help me on the farm and keep me going,” said Randy Ball, a participating grower from Vance County. “This project gave me the opportunity to reach out and expand [beyond tobacco].”
Garrett added, “It was a good thing, sort of a life saver because of the tobacco issue.”
Six growers have sold their California poppy crop (fresh and dried), five growers sold their echinacea crop, and the dandelion and valerian growers have their crops pre-sold and will ship once they are harvested.
Herb brokering and manufacturing companies including Botanical Supply, Gaia Herbs, Ridge Runner Trading Co., and Strategic Sourcing, all based in North Carolina, and Triarco Industries, of New Jersey, are an integral part of the project. They offer invaluable advice, participate in conference calls and field days and purchase herbs.
“Together, partners involved with this project are building a strong network of medicinal herb growers and buyers, all the while building North Carolina's reputation as a state that produces superior quality raw materials for a growing natural products industry,” Woodward said.
