News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2009

Charges to be Filed in Statewide Ginseng Investigation
American Ginseng known as Ohio’s Green Gold

COLUMBUS, OH – For the past month, State Wildlife Officers from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife have been contacting many Ohio ginseng dealers and diggers as part of an ongoing investigation.
 
To date, more than 60 violations of Ohio law have been identified with more that 30 individuals involved. The investigation continues with additional charges and suspects expected. Charges may include digging ginseng without landowner permission, collecting or possession of ginseng during the closed season, failure to maintain accurate records and failure to certify ginseng prior to export.
 
Ohio certifies about 3,000 pounds of ginseng for export annually. There are 46 licensed ginseng dealers in the state with an estimated two to four thousand diggers. The number of diggers varies annually depending on market conditions.
 
American ginseng is a slow-growing perennial herb. It reaches a typical height of eight to fifteen inches. Ginseng prefers mature woodlands, frequently on slopes, where it favors rich soil and dense shade. American ginseng occurs from Quebec, Canada, west to Minnesota and south to Georgia and Oklahoma. Plants produce flowers during June and July. These flowers develop into green fruits. In August and September, the fruit ripens into bright crimson berries. Each berry contains two to three seeds, and germination takes place in 18 to 22 months. Seedlings normally appear in May and during their first year have only one small leaf comprised of three leaflets.
 
During the second growing season, the plant will develop a central stem with one compound leaf comprised of three to four leaflets. With each growing season, the plants will continue to add leaves and leaflets. The size of the plant, number of leaves, and number of flowers increases with the age of the plant. The development of additional leaves and flowers is not annual. The rate of growth is controlled by soil conditions, available light, seasonal weather variations and damage by humans and animals. The life expectancy of ginseng is uncertain and estimated to be 20 to 75 years.
 
Ohio Ginseng Law:

• The harvest season for wild ginseng in Ohio is September 1 through December 31. Green ginseng may be sold beginning on September 1 and dry ginseng may not be sold until after September 15.
• All harvestable plants must have at least three leaves (prongs). All seeds are to be planted at the place where the plant was collected.
• No license is required to dig wild ginseng on private land, but diggers are required to have written permission from the landowner to harvest.
• Collection is prohibited on state owned properties.
• Diggers must keep accurate harvest records by county and collection date.
• A Ginseng Dealer’s Permit from the ODNR Division of Wildlife is required to buy ginseng for resale or export from the state.
• All ginseng must be certified by the Division of Wildlife before it is exported from Ohio. 

Ginseng is one of the most sought after medicinal plant in the world. The value of the dried wild root varies, but was as high as $1,000 per pound in 2007. Ginseng’s market value varies greatly from day to day; today’s market value is about $400.