Trends in medicinal and aromatic plant production in the United States

A general increase in interest and use of medicinal and aromatic plants as natural products for food and pharmaceutical applications has swept the Uni ted States during the past twenty years. As demand for these natural produc ts expands, the efforts of plant collectors and growers to supply the marke t have created opportunities and problems. Considerations about supply, saf ety, and sustainability probably best characterize turmoil in the marketpla ce. To meet the need for safe, sustainable, plant supplies, education and n ew technology are being utilized.