Commercial Echinacea Production

 
   
 
 
 


Interested in a new crop? Looking for comprehensive information? Then take a look at Commercial Echinacea Production. This book offers new producers the information they need to grow a quality crop, or it can help others decide whether to invest in or enter the industry. Numerous tables and pictures show a wealth of detail, and a color selection shows key echinacea features and common pest problems. Topics:
  • production practices (field or greenhouse)
  • economics, business and marketing
  • good agricultural practices
  • further information sources
Agdex 188/20-1
$25.00

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  • Calling 1-800-292-5697 (toll-free in Canada) or (780) 427-0391
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  • Buying on-line.
Contents

Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Introduction
Background
Alberta's echinacea industry
Echinacea in the natural health products market
Sources of echinacea
Botanical history of echinacea
Folklore
Historical uses of echinacea in North America
Modern health claims

The Echinacea Plant
Echinacea species
Ensuring the botanical identity of echinacea
Active ingredients
Latitudinal effect

Preliminary Considerations
Business basics
Business and production plans
Markets
Contracts
Breaking the traditional farming mentality
Just because it looks good on paper.
Labour
Other considerations
Organic production

Field Production Systems
Site selection
Site and soil preparation
Seeds vs. transplants
Seed considerations
Direct seeding
Transplanting
Fertility management
Irrigation
Pest management
Over-wintering
Seed harvest

Color Section
Root harvest
Harvesting other plant parts

Economic Analysis
Yield potential
Capital investment requirements
Gross margin
Financial risk management

Business and Marketing
Marketing vs. business
Value of market research
Conducting market research
How to market
Market requirements
Selling root, seed and/or herb
Value-added options

Greenhouse Production Systems
Transplant production
Root production - experimental method

Good Agricultural Practices
On-Farm Food Safety and HACCP-based GAPs
HACCP basics
One up, one down model
Auditing/certification
Traceability
GAPs for echinacea production

Natural Health Products Regulations and Echinacea
Definition of a natural health product
Applying for a Natural Product Number

Resources
Equipment and material suppliers
Governments: information and contacts
Laboratory services
Producer associations
Seed cleaning services
Other resources (literature, websites)

Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Glossary
References		  
 
 
  For more information about the content of this document, contact Ada Serafinchon.
This information published to the web on January 24, 2006.
Last Reviewed/Revised on February 23, 2006.