Farmers in the mountains of Western North Carolina are being sought to be a special part of a project designed to determine whether medicinal herbs can be a viable commodity on North Carolina farms.

Last year, cooperating farmers grew purple coneflower, California poppy, valerian and dandelions. This year, the project will involve roughly 45 growers from across the state, and additional herb crops will be explored. Between five and 10 farmers will be selected from the 25 western most counties.

“This project is building a strong network of medicinal herb growers and buyers, all the while building North Carolina’s reputation as a state that produces superior quality raw materials for a growing natural products industry,” said Woody Woodward, the project coordinator. “We believe mountain growers can be an important part of this network.”

The Medicinal Herbs for Commerce project is part of the North Carolina Specialty Crops Program, a cooperative effort of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University and the Marketing Division of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. It is based at N.C. State’s Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center in Fletcher.

Applications are being accepted from mountain farmers to participate in a special part of the second year of the project. Each cooperating grower will receive a grant of up to $5,000 to offset risk and expenses involved in growing a new crop. They will also receive agricultural, technical and direct marketing assistance, seeds necessary to produce and market top-quality medicinal herbs and access to bulk drying barns typically unavailable in the mountain region.

Project staff will help growers contact buyers and market herbs. In return, farmers must agree to meet with the project coordinator at their farm as necessary, maintain production records through the course of the project, keep accurate financial records and receipts for the development of budgets and be willing to host a field day for other growers and extension agents.

Crops will be chosen for their market potential and compatibility with existing equipment.

Applications must be postmarked by June 17. More information and applications are available on line at www.ncherb.org. Additional information is also available from Woody Woodward, project coordinator, at 828.684.3562 or woody_woodward@ncsu.edu.