Agricultural commissioner visiting WNC
By Quintin Ellison, STAFF WRITER
Asheville Citizen Times
Updated: Jan 13 at 01:36ROBBINSVILLE - State Agricultural Commissioner Meg Scott Phipps, the first woman in North Carolina history to head the agriculture department, will be in Western North Carolina today to explore the possibility of farmers growing native plants such as ginseng.
Phipps will accompany farmers and others on a tour of farms in Graham County that are cultivating native plants or are considering doing so.
"We'll be looking at plants like ginseng, golden seal and black cohosh, and talking with specialists to see if herb cultivation is a viable agricultural enterprise for small-scale farming," Phipps said. "For generations, residents of the Southern Appalachian mountains have collected these and other herbs for natural remedies for colds, relief from symptoms of menopause and other problems. We're looking at elevating production to growing, rather than collecting, plants."
Phipps, a Democrat and daughter of former Gov. Bob Scott, was elected agricultural commissioner in November. She replaces longtime commissioner Jim Graham, who decided not to seek re-election.
In addition to area farmers, Phipps will be accompanied on the tour by Smithson Mills, international marketing specialist for the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and Jim Corbin, who specializes in indigenous WNC plants for the state Plant Industry division.
"We would like to raise awareness," Robin Suggs of Yellow Creek Botanical Institute in Graham County said of the tour. "We hope to be able to offer new approaches to people in agriculture."
Yellow Creek Botanical Institute is a nonprofit organization trying to develop native plants as a farming option in WNC. The group also wants to build a research station in Graham County.
Suggs said he and others in WNC have been "impressed" with Phipps' interest in the mountain counties and her receptiveness to native plant production.
"It kind of fits in with her idea of niche production," he said.
In addition to ginseng, golden seal and black cohosh, a market also exits for the pungent ramp, Suggs said. Some restaurants in New York now feature the Southern Appalachian delicacy.
Phipps said she believes there is strong support within the state's agriculture department to find alternative crops for farmers.
"Our Agronomic Services Division could help with soil and tissue testing, our Plant Industry Division with plant selection, and our Research Stations with testing of cultivars and growing practices, and our Division of Marketing can identify domestic and especially international markets," she said. "I am going to look and learn, and see how we can further diversify agriculture in this part of the state and generate profits for farmers."
Contact Ellison at 452-1467 or Qellison@CITIZEN-TIMES.com
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