Ginseng in Ohio

Continued Progress Handling Ginseng Poaching Issue;
Rural Action Supports Grower in Case

by Chip Carroll, NTFP Research, Education & Demonstration Coordinator
(As featured in the Fall 2004 Rural Action Forestry Program newsletter, The Grapevine)

Poaching is one of the largest problems facing ginseng growers and wild ginseng populations in Appalachian Ohio. On September 8th, 2003 Chip Carroll of Rural Action Forestry received a phone call from an Ohio ginseng grower who had caught several poachers red-handed in his ginseng patch in August. The grower had been watching his roots disappear for about ten days before he decided to take a day off of work and stake out his beds. He caught two poachers, then called the local sheriff and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), who came out and arrested them. The poachers had already sold some of the fresh root to a local buyer for around $50 per pound. An investigation ensued and it was determined that the root buyer had purchased the roots out of season and did not keep the appropriate records as required by law for the transactions.

In February 2004 Rural Action and the Roots of Appalachia Growers Association (RAGA) enlisted the help of Richard Renner of Tate & Renner Law Offices to provide council for the grower, at no charge. In March of 2004 Rural Action and RAGA met with the grower, prosecutor and wildlife investigator to explore possible prosecution routes for the buyer. Everyone at the meeting was very cooperative and open to discussion of why this was such a serious crime.

The following week, the case went to court where the buyer pleaded no contest and was sentenced to forfeit his license to buy or sell ginseng for at least one year, 20 hours of community service and 30 days in jail (suspended upon terms of his 1-year probation). The buyer also had to pay his related court costs and return the roots to the rightful owner. The poachers have yet to be sentenced at the time of this publication. All told, this grower suffered losses of over 16 pounds of fresh root worth $1,300-$1,600, not to mention the cost of seed and labor put into growing the plants. The grower hopes that by sharing his experience with others, including law enforcement personnel, he can help prevent this from happening to other growers.

The Rural Action Forestry Program has been working on the issue of ginseng poaching since 1999. Work has primarily focused on the opening date for the harvest season and cultivation and security issues. A committee composed of members of RAGA, harvesters and botanists has provided guidance in developing a plan for pursuing this issue.

The committee has been able to meet with and drum up support from the Ohio Division of Natural Resources (ODNR), who in 2003 moved the opening of the harvest season from August 15th to September 1st. We have begun an educational campaign including the development of a website, (www.growginseng.org), dedicated to ginseng poaching issues, development of educational materials and handouts and a new "Grow it, don't poach it-- Protect Appalachian Heritage" t-shirt.

Currently we are collecting stories from individuals who have been poached and interview those who are willing to share stories about ginseng growing, harvesting and poaching. We will produce an educational video in 2004 aimed at educating the judges, prosecutors and law enforcement personnel about the importance of combating the poaching problem here in Ohio.

If you would like to get involved or have a story about growing ginseng to share, please contact Chip Carroll at 740-742-4401 or chipc@ruralaction.org