Medicinal Herbs: These items have reacted to the changing situation in eastern Europe with reduced availabilities and higher prices reflecting a shift to a market economy in many producing countries, as well as the lack of governmental stability. It seems it's all right to pay pickers $1 a day if you subsidize their housing and foodstuffs, but if the necessities of life are allowed to float to their true value, wages must certainly follow. This fall there has been a distinct lack of interest in collecting, cleaning, baling, and shipping these classically low-priced goods from socialist countries. This situation should be watched closely since even simple weeds like Wood Betony are becoming hard to obtain.
Potpourri Ingredients: While this quarter has not been a banner one for the potpourri industry, there has been a distinct recovery in this seemingly moribund trade. Manufacturers seem to have worked off excess inventories, as have importers, who now face the prospect of refilling suddenly empty warehouses with somewhat pricey, perishable commodities for a market of which they are unsure. Prices at origin have already risen during the latter half of this quarter as demand reasserted itself for -- instance, Pakistani Rosebuds of the much-coveted winter crop have risen more than 50% in the last few weeks. This whole industry would be an interesting study for a business school thesis. Were rosebuds just the Christmas gift of 1988, or will this item become a regular feature of American life? Only time will tell...Stay tuned to your Market Report in future issues of HerbalGram to find out! This should be interesting!
Article copyright American Botanical Council.
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By Peter Landes