Field Of Dreams
Success comes naturally for a new crop of herb farmers.
By Marcie Geffner
Herbs are hot. From echinacea to ginseng, herbal remedies once
considered on the fringes of medicine are popping up in pharmacies
everywhere. Consumer demand for medicinal herbs is growing
phenomenally, culinary herbs are growing strong, and herb farms are
springing up across the country to meet the demand.
"The driving force right now [in the herb market] is the
interest in alternative health-care products, herbal supplements,
herbal medicinal products and dietary supplements," says
Maureen Rogers, director of the Herb Growing and Marketing Network,
an industry association in Silver Springs, Pennsylvania.
Besides processing herb plants, fresh-cut herbs and dried herbs,
some growers also formulate and manufacture their own herbal
products (e.g., shampoos and skin creams), which are sold by mail
order or at retail stores on the farms.
Content Continues Below
An herb farm start-up faces the same risks as any farming
enterprise, but if you're comfortable with the long start-up
phase and the often significant capital investment, the rewards can
be considerable.
Marcie Geffner is a freelance writer in Los Angeles who
reports on small business and real estate.
Page 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 