Appalachian Ginseng Foundation History & Futures

In 1999, ASPI initiated the Appalachian Ginseng Foundation (AGF), "an interstate regional organization of ginseng growers that assists its members to grow 'virtually wild Ginseng' and save the valuable forest cover of the region because it is required to grow it." AGF organized workshops, lab research, and educational materials supported by various funders and collaborators.

One outcome of these efforts is A Manual for Ginseng Growers and Trainers: How to Grow Virtually Wild Ginseng by ASPI founder Father Albert J. Fritsch & Sherman Bamford, which is available as a PDF. Other AGF resources included two ASPI Technical Papers (TP-38 "Ginseng in Appalachia" and TP-57 "Moratorium on Wild American Ginseng Exports") and three ASPI video productions ("Virtually Wild Ginseng as a Forest-Saving Technique"; "Ginseng and the Environment"; and "Tour of a Ginseng Farm/GIS&GPS Techniques").

Ginseng represents both regional nature and culture, and ASPI is exploring opportunities for reconvening the Appalachian Ginseng Foundation in collaboration with regional organizations and activists. Contact AGF@a-spi.org to join preliminary conversations!

Scanned title page of Harrison Garman's 1898 "Ginseng, Its Nature and Culture" Bulletin No. 78 for the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station