3/2/2010
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Diggers and dealers of the perennial herb ginseng have less than one month to have all the roots in their possession weight receipted. After Wednesday, March 31, it is illegal to have any ginseng roots that have not been properly weight receipted by Division of Forestry personnel. Failing to meet this deadline can result in a fine or even jail time. All ginseng roots must be attached to a weight receipt from April 1 through Aug. 31.
In 2008, conservation officers with the Division of Natural Resources arrested five people in Summers and Wyoming counties for harvesting ginseng out of season and selling it on e-Bay. In West Virginia, ginseng can be legally dug from Sept. 1 through Nov. 30 each year.
Robin Black, a technical assistant with the Division of Forestry who oversees the agency’s ginseng program, says that possessing legally harvested ginseng is not an issue as long as people make sure to have it weight receipted by the March 31 deadline.
“Due to fluctuating market conditions and other reasons, some folks like to hold onto their ginseng until the next season,” Black said. “That is fine as long as they make arrangements to see one of our foresters by March 31.”
Black added that just because ginseng has been weight receipted does not mean that it may be transported out of state or be sold to an out-of-state dealer. Only ginseng certified by a registered dealer is allowed to be transported or sold out of state.
Diggers and dealers should call their local Division of Forestry office as soon as possible to make an appointment to have their ginseng weight receipted. A list of dealers is available through the Division of Forestry’s Web site, www.wvforestry.com, or by calling Black at (304) 558-2788 or e-mailing her at Robin.S.Black@wv.gov.
For more information about ginseng, visit the Division of Forestry’s Web site at www.wvforestry.com.
Contact Information
Robin Black
304-558-2788
robin.s.black@wv.gov