Interview With Dan Wiebke-Ginseng Buyer

Dan Wiebke, President Wiebke Fur Company.

Today is Part One of an interview that Dan Wiebke, of Wiebke Fur and Trading Company, did for me specifically on the selling, handling, and transportation of Wild Harvested Ginseng.

Dan has been in this business for a number of years, and is one of the Mid West US main buyers and sellers of natural renewable resources.

Wiebke Fur and Trading Company has two locations in the Midwest:

Address:
Wiebke Fur and Trading Co.
110 Rose Street
La Crosse, WI 54603

Telephone:
(608) 784-4402

Fax:
(608) 784-5453

Address:
Wiebke Fur & Trading Co.
P.O. Box 126, 218 Portland Ave.
Eitzen, MN 55931

Telephone:
(507) 495-3312

Fax:
(507) 495-3469

These guys know the market and always strive to get you the best price. Give them a call or check out their site Wiebke Fur and Trading Company.

Lets get to the questions:

WHP:  When do you normally first start to see Ginseng hitting your buyers sites?

DAN:  Ginseng season opened Sept 1.  We usually buy some green ginseng on that first day.

WHP:  Do Ginseng sellers "wait" for the best price throughout the buying season?

DAN:  Some Ginseng diggers wait for the best price because that is important to them.  Other diggers sell daily.

WHP:  What are the legal requirements for wild harvesters or foragers selling Ginseng to your stores?

DAN:  All sellers must have a WI Ginseng Harvester's license.  All roots must be five years old or older.  Sellers from outside WI must have their roots certified by the state in which they reside before shipping the product to us

WHP:  What do you recommend harvesters or foragers do to provide the best product for your buyers?
     a.  Cleaning
     b.  Drying
     c.  Packaging
     d.  Shipping or transportation to your stores
      f.  Other

DAN: (In order of the questions above)
     a.  Rinse in warm water

     b.  Drying on cardboard.  Dry area above cupboard or attic.

     c.  Packaging - box or paper sack

     d.  Shipping- if shipping, the Ginseng must be boxed carefully.

WHP:  What is the largest haul from one seller you have seen in a single season?

DAN:  15 - 20 lbs is a large quantity.  Our best diggers have sold us around 100 lbs of green ginseng in a single season.

My next post I will finish up with the last five questions and answers from Dan.

Don't miss this part.  

Dan let's us know how he feels about the future of Ginseng harvesting, and also a great story about two diggers that went from rich to broke in a weekend.

Yours in Wild Harvest Profits Success!

5Rivers Jim

Look at these Laws! Ginseng in West Virginia

Just a little heads up on some laws that are being considered or have been enacted on Ginseng digging, collecting and harvesting. This proposal from West Virginia should make you sit up and pay attention.

"Harvesting Ginseng"

Bill Grafton, Wildlife Specialist, WVU Extension Service
Dave McGill, Forest Resources Specialist, WVU Extension Service Aug. 2005
 

West Virginia has a new law that regulates the growing, digging, and selling of ginseng.

  (The W.Va. Division of Forestry will administer the regulations after the legislature approves them.)
 

A few of the regulations are described here.

It is now unlawful to plant ginseng seeds or plants and to dig, collect, or gather ginseng on public lands in West Virginia.

The digging season for wild ginseng is from September 1 through November 30. A grower may also harvest woods-grown or wild simulated ginseng during that same period. 

Cultivated ginseng may be harvested throughout the year.
 

Permits and Regulations:
 

A ginseng digger MUST have written permission on their person when harvesting wild ginseng on another person’s enclosed (fenced) or posted lands.  This sound familiar...huh?
 

People who harvest ginseng must buy a $10 annual permit. All commercial plants and roots must be sold to a licensed dealer so the state’s total harvest can be certified and monitored. Plants must be five years old to be harvested from the wild.
 

More information about ginseng may be obtained from the W.Va. Division of Forestry (304)558-2788).

This law proposal is making the rounds in some of the major states that harvest large crops of wild and wild simulated Ginseng.

Keep up to speed with your states requirements and proposals. This is our profession...don't lose this time honored activity to a non-outdoors politician seeking approval with the far left. IMHO!



Yours in Wild Harvest Profit Success!




5Rivers Jim

Video on Ginseng Hunting

This video will help with  recognizing  this much sought after "Green Gold" commodity. I think that this YTTN Hunter is a pretty good teacher.  He did a better job then I did in the woods filming, so enjoy




This is a good video of hunting ginseng.  It will give you a good general reference to recognize the plant.

Make sure that you know your state's laws as to how many spikes are required before you dig the root.  Some states require 5, some only 3.  Look up your rules and always follow them.

Yours in Wild Harvest Profits success!

5Rivers Jim