12 things you never knew about Wisconsin’s ginseng trade

Wisconsin’s ginseng trade dates back more than a century and contributes millions of dollars to the state’s economy. Discover what makes Wisconsin ginseng so unique. 

When you think about food commodities in Wisconsin, cheese is probably the first thing that comes to mind. (The Badger State produces more than 25 percent of cheese in the U.S.) But Wisconsin is also well-known for its ginseng production. Wisconsin is the number one producer of ginseng in the U.S., and its ginseng is highly coveted in countries throughout the world.  

Ginseng—which comes from the Chinese phrase ren-shen, or man root—is a fleshy root plant that resembles a human body with two “arms” and “legs.” It can be eaten raw but is most commonly consumed in tea or added to savory dishes like soup or stir fry. Many studies have been done on the potential health benefits of ginseng and have found that it may boost immune health, improve symptoms of heart disease, boost memory, and reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. 

Nowhere in the U.S. produces more ginseng than Wisconsin, which has a topography and soil that’s ideal for growing the plant. Keep reading to learn all about the Wisconsin ginseng trade, find out why the state’s ginseng is more popular than ginseng from other areas, and discover other fun facts about the herb. 

1. Ginseng’s Wisconsin roots date back more than 100 years

Ginseng is native to Wisconsin—more specifically, a 1,500-square-mile region of Central Wisconsin—and was first cultivated in the state in the 1800s. 

Native American tribes, including the Meskwaki, Ojibwe, and Menominee, who lived in what is now Wisconsin, harvested ginseng for its health benefits and also traded it with early European settlers. It was believed that ginseng could cure a wide range of ailments, including headaches, stomach issues, and fevers. 

Today, there are more than 150 ginseng growers in the central region of Wisconsin. 

2. Wisconsin is the top ginseng producer in the U.S.

Ninety-five percent of commercially grown ginseng in the U.S. comes from Wisconsin. The state’s ginseng is exported to countries across the globe, with about 10 percent of the world’s supply of the plant originating in Wisconsin. In 2020, Wisconsin’s ginseng exports totaled more than $19 million. 

Central Wisconsin, where the majority of the state’s ginseng is grown, has been dubbed The Napa Valley of American Ginseng, signifying the area’s importance in the American ginseng industry. 

3. American ginseng is expensive

The plant sells for a premium—twice as much as Chinese ginseng and 50 percent more than the Canadian root. Wisconsin ginseng, especially, is a prized product in other parts of the world. In Asian countries, it’s often sold in luxurious packaging as a souvenir in duty-free shops at international airports. 

According to a 2021 Midstory article that examines how Wisconsin ginseng became a global commodity, the plant sells for $700 to $800 per pound when dried.

4. China is the biggest Wisconsin ginseng consumer

China is Wisconsin ginseng’s biggest consumer. In 2020, about 51 percent (or $9.83 million) of Wisconsin’s ginseng went to China. Hong Kong is the second-biggest importer of Wisconsin ginseng, with almost 44 percent of the state’s ginseng going to Hong Kong in 2020. Taiwan, Canada, and Vietnam are also large markets for Wisconsin ginseng. 

5. Wisconsin’s climate makes it ideal for growing ginseng

Ginseng isn’t easy to grow—it takes about five years until the plant is ready to harvest, and it’s highly susceptible to damage from the sun, rain, wind, and frost. However, Wisconsin’s sandy loam soil is rich in nutrients and ideal for growing quality ginseng. The state’s long, cold winters also contribute to the quality and uniqueness of Wisconsin ginseng. 

Another fun fact about ginseng: Unlike other crops that can repopulate in the same field, once ginseng is grown in a specific area, it will never grow there again. 

American ginseng in late fall with red berries, grown under wooden shade in Monk Ginseng Garden, in Weston, Wisc. (Drginseng/CC BY-SA 3.0)

6. American ginseng is different from Asian ginseng

Ginseng grown in Wisconsin (Panax quinquefolius) is more bittersweet than its Asian counterpart (Panax ginseng). It’s also darker and more wrinkled than ginseng grown elsewhere because of Wisconsin’s nutrient-rich soil. 

7. Ginseng is Wisconsin’s state herb

In 2017, then-governor Scott Walker designated ginseng as Wisconsin’s official state herb. That same year, the state hosted its first Wisconsin Ginseng Festival.

8. John H. Koehler is the Ginseng King

John H. Koehler opened the first ginseng garden in Wisconsin in 1901. He later opened two additional gardens in 1908 and 19010 and published the Ginseng and Goldenseal Growers’ Handbook in 1912. Because of his efforts and contributions to the Wisconsin ginseng industry, the Milwaukee Journal dubbed him the Ginseng King. 

9. The Fromm Family created the modern ginseng farm

Koehler may have been the first to open a ginseng garden in Wisconsin, but the Fromm Family took ginseng farming to the next level. Four brothers—Walter, Edward, John, and Henry Fromm—started what would become one of the 20th century’s most successful ginseng farms. The brothers dedicated about 500 acres of land to ginseng production, and many of their farming techniques are still used by ginseng producers today. 

10. Wisconsin regulates wild ginseng

The state’s Department of Natural Resources regulates the harvest, sale, and purchase of wild ginseng in an effort to prevent overharvesting. (After being overharvested in the 1970s, ginseng was listed as an endangered species in Wisconsin.) You must have a license to harvest wild ginseng, and a plant can only be harvested if it has three or more true leaves. There are also regulations regarding where and when you can harvest ginseng. 

If you want to grow cultivated ginseng in Wisconsin, you need to register with the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection. 

Wild American Ginseng fruit. (Tom Potterfield/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

11. Ginseng got caught up in Trump’s trade war

When Donald Trump imposed steel and aluminum tariffs on China in 2018, the country retaliated with a 15 percent tariff on American ginseng, sending a shock wave through Marathon County, where most of Wisconsin’s ginseng is grown. 

12. You can buy ginseng wine and whiskey

As we mentioned earlier, ginseng is commonly used in tea, soup, and stir fry. But some winemakers are infusing their wines with Wisconsin ginseng. Pearson Brothers Winery, based in California, offers a wine with ginseng root in the bottle. 

If you prefer liquor over wine, Wisconsin’s Great Northern Distilling sells an American ginseng-flavored whiskey made with fresh ginseng roots. According to the Wausau Daily Herald, some of these ginseng products came about as the result of the aforementioned trade war with China, which forced ginseng growers to experiment and expand their offerings to attract new customers.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.