How To Promote Herb Use (Continued from Page 12) and sold not just for refresh ment, but for their phytonu trient contents. Essential oils ranging from lavender, sage, geranium and bergamot are found in products produced by cottage industries and global chemical giants alike. Without an ingredient list touting natural, herbal addi tives, even the most commer cial soaps and cosmetic products are not competitive in today’s herbal renaissance market. Its not just people who are using herbs, pet stores now have products ranging from cat-nip filled toys, essential oil based flea powders, garlic, barely grass, valerian and chamomile tab lets, to name just a few selec tions. It surprise that a Har vard study from the Journal of American Medicine Asso ciation found that $5.1 billion was spent on herbal supple ments in the U.S. in 1998 alone. An Herb Is An Herb Is An Herb, Or Is It? Until recently, herbs were not commercially considered foods, but rather flavorings or spices. With the passing of the DSHEA Act of 1994, 110 or 150 Gallon Rear RMBIIO2IT 31 Features • 110 or 125 gallon tank with jet agitation, molded sight gauge, and 8" fillwell. • Rear mount features 12 gauge formed steel skid frame. • Rear mount will fit category "1" & "2" • Hypro 8 roller cast iron or "Silver Cast" PTO pump with Multi-Speed Quick Coupler. • 21', 28' and 30' Truss-T boom features vertical and horizontal boom breakaway with 20" nozzle spacing. many products formerly un classifiabie are now called “dietary supplements.” In terestingly, in cultures world wide, food is commonly thought of as medicine, and medicine is consumed daily in food. In Thailand, the regular consumption of cayenne peppers is thought to signifi cantly reduce the incidence of stroke and blood clots, while studies worldwide have shown the daily consumption of garlic to effectively de crease the incidence of gas trointestinal cancers. Because many established drugs are derived from botanical sources, the distinction be tween drug, dietary supple ment and food is one of intended use. Herb Classifications, Characteristics • Medicinal and nutritive herbs. Commonly sold in a dried or prepared form as a tea, extract preserved in alco hol or glycerine, (often to beverages and foods) topical ointments, tablets, pills or capsules. Medicinal herbs are sold to pharmaceutical com panies, nutraceutical compa nies, or less commonly, directly to the consumer. ount Sold Through Servicing Dealers By: HAMILTON EQUIPMENT, INC. website: www.haminc.com 567 South Reading Road Ephrata, PA 17522 1-717-733-7951 • Culinary herbs. Com monly sold dried and with an increasing market for fresh. Sold either directly to the consumer or indirectly via a grocery store or restaurant. Culinary herbs are also pro cessed and shipped for drying and use in large-scale food production. • Essential oil plants. Many essential oil plants are also medicinal in function; however, oils are prepared through the distillation pro cess. Plants used in oil pro duction are processed fresh. Essential oils are used in aro matherapy and as scents in products ranging from household cleaners, candles, insect repellents, air fresheners, soaps, cosmetics, beverages and some foods. Herb Marketing Examples • Medicinal Herb Blos soms • Marketing Culinary Herbs and Specialty Crops to Restaurants • Marketing Live Plants and Cut Flowers • Marketing Herbal Han dicrafts and Prepared Herbal Products • Finding Ethnic Markets Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 9,2002, Grower and Marketer- Herbs With Three Prerequisites These Herbs have multiple uses (culinary, medicinal, or aromatic), can feasibly be grown in this climate (some perennials must be treated as annuals) and have reason ably stable market markets expected to grow; Basil, Bur dock, Borage, Catnip, Calen dula, Chamomile, Chicory, Phlox ‘David’ Named 2002 Perennial Plant Of Year COLUMBUS, Ohio Phlox “David” has been named the 2002 Perennial Plant of the Year by the Perennial Plant Association. The Perennial Plant Asso ciation (PPA) is an educa tional and professional trade association. Each year, the PPA membership selects by vote the Perennial Plant of the Year. Phlox “David” landmarks the 13th year for the promotional Perennial Plant of the Year Program. “Phlox ‘David’ is praised for its bright white clusters of delightfully fragrant flo wers,” said Steven Still, PPA executive director. “It is known to flower from mid- July to September. Also, ‘David’ has the greatest powdery mildew resistance of any white phlox.” Phlox “David,” a member of the Polemoniaceae family, is native from New York to Georgia and west to Arkan sas and Illinois. The peren nial performs well in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 9. “David” is an erect peren nial 36-40 inches tall. The thin glossy leaves are oppo site with bristly hairs on the margins. The plant has a WANTED A Few Good Farmers To sell what you grow or produce at outdoor farmers’ markets in Philadelphia, Phoemxville, and Norristown and work with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. To take home as much as $l,OOO a day at peak season (farmers’ daily sales average over $600). Variety is the key to success. Small farms are welcome' Several of our most successful farmers grow on less than 10 acres. To tour a farmers’ market in Philadelphia call the Farmers’ Market Trust at (215) 568-0830 or (800) 417-9499 or e-mail fmtrust@libertynet.org. Cilantro, Dandelion, Dill, Daylily, Garlic, Lemongrass, Lovage, Licorice, Lavender, Mint, Monarda, Nasturtium, Nettle, Rose, Rosemary, Sage, St. Johns Wort, Squash Blossom, and Violet/Pansy. From Proceedings Of The 2002 Mid-Atlantic Fruit And Vegetable Convention habit of producing strong stems that prove sturdy in wind and weather. The fra grant white flower panicles are six to nine inches long and six to eight inches wide with one-inch diameter florets. “The Perennial Plant of the Year Program helps con sumers select plants that perennial industry experts find to be outstanding and easily grown,” Still said. “The homeowner can have great confidence that the Perennial Plant of the Year will grow well in the garden.” Gardeners can obtain this exciting perennial through their local garden centers or through the many mail order perennial nurseries. The Perennial Plant of the Year Program began in 1990. The membership of the Perennial Plant Association selects a perennial that is suitable for a wide range of climate types, low mainte nance, easily propagated, and exhibits multiseasonal interest. For more information about the PPA, visit www.perennialplant.org or contact the PPA office. Farmers' Market Trust 209