The reality, researchers contend, is that customers and consumers in Asia view the forest-farmed ginseng roots to be very similar in quality to truly wild plant material.
To reach their conclusions, the researchers utilized a confidential, annual survey sent to ginseng sellers over eight years in Pennsylvania to examine the extent to which forest farming and planting of commercially acquired seeds may contribute to wild ginseng harvest amounts.
Pennsylvania has exporting about 1,000 pounds of dried ginseng roots like this one in most years during the past decade, and researchers are trying to better understand where it all is coming from, since most forestlands in Pennsylvania are privately owned, and harvesting from public lands is not permissible
Forest farmers in Pennsylvania often are planting seeds acquired in online purchases from places outside the state. That germplasm threatens to weaken the gene pool of the plant, which is well adapted to thrive in Appalachian forests.
A forest farmer digs out a ginseng plant in a private forest plot. The researchers found a geographic overlap between study participants who planted seeds and the top wild ginseng harvest counties, suggesting planting activities are contributing to higher harvest amounts.
A ginseng "garden" in a private forest plot is shown, growing in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. Forest farming of the endangered forest herb, valued for its medicinal qualities, is becoming much more common.
In a move designed to limit the spread of COVID-19 on Penn State campuses, the union representing about 2,600 technical service employees, has agreed to follow University requirements for mask-wearing, regardless of vaccination status. The agreement goes into effect immediately.
As part of Penn State's COVID-19 mitigation plans, COVID-19 tests will be required for all students moving into on-campus residential housing who have not shared with the University that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or provided a positive COVID-19 test result from the last 90 days prior to arrival.
The eighth annual Penn State Beaver wine, ale and food event, In Good Taste, will take place on campus from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 12. All proceeds from the event will benefit Penn State Beaver student scholarships.
