Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormDried
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Market
Dried ginseng in Canada is closely tied to Ontario’s commercial cultivation of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), with production concentrated in Southwestern Ontario. Ontario is described by the province as the leading producer of ginseng in North America, and commercial handling commonly includes washing, refrigerated conditioning, and kiln drying before packing in bulk lots. The Canadian supply chain is strongly shaped by CITES controls and domestic protections for wild American ginseng, with wild harvest/export prohibited and trade in whole/sliced roots subject to permitting. In parallel, ginseng marketed for health purposes in Canada may fall under Health Canada’s natural health products framework, adding licensing and importer compliance requirements.
Market RoleMajor producer and exporter (cultivated American ginseng), with regulated trade and a domestic consumer market for ginseng products
Domestic RoleSpecialty medicinal herb crop with domestic retail presence; significant volumes positioned for export channels
SeasonalityOntario research trials discuss root harvest timing from mid-August through November, with post-harvest refrigerated conditioning commonly used prior to drying; availability of dried root is therefore less seasonal than fresh root.
Specification
Primary VarietyPanax quinquefolius (American ginseng)
Secondary Variety- Panax ginseng (Asiatic ginseng)
Physical Attributes- Commercial handling targets intact roots suitable for drying; a properly dried root breaks easily and has the expected surface texture and resilience (Ontario production guidance).
- For American ginseng under CITES controls, whole or sliced roots and parts of roots (fresh or dried) are the regulated forms; manufactured derivatives (e.g., powders/extracts/teas/capsules) are treated differently under CITES annotation rules.
Compositional Metrics- Ontario trials track ginsenosides and polysaccharides as key quality measures; drying temperature materially affects ginsenoside recovery and root color.
Grades- Ontario guidance describes packing preferences for a consistent mix of pencil and chunky roots per bulk lot, with further grading occurring at destination warehouses.
Packaging- Packed as dried root in cardboard barrels lined with plastic bags in 45 kg lots (Ontario production guidance).
- Dried product is stored in plastic-lined barrels after drying to slow re-hydration (OMAFRA specialty crop guidance).
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Harvest (modified diggers) → wash → refrigerated conditioning/holding → kiln drying with airflow/temperature control → bulk packing (plastic-lined barrels) → domestic distribution and/or export via designated buyers
Temperature- Ontario guidance describes storing washed roots under refrigeration for 4–6 weeks prior to drying to improve appearance and reduce heat damage risk during drying.
- OMAFRA specialty crop guidance describes conditioning roots under refrigeration (2–6 weeks at 3–8°C) prior to drying, and notes that low-temperature storage improves shelf-life of dried product.
Shelf Life- OMAFRA specialty crop guidance indicates dried ginseng can be stored for multi-year durations when dried and stored appropriately (plastic-lined barrels; low humidity supports shelf-life).
Risks
CITES Compliance HighTrade in American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) whole or sliced roots and parts of roots (including dried) is subject to CITES controls; Canada prohibits export of wild American ginseng and requires permits for legal trade in controlled forms. Shipments lacking correct CITES documentation (or involving wild-origin material from Canada) can be detained, refused, or seized, disrupting trade to/from Canada.Verify species (P. quinquefolius vs P. ginseng), product form (whole/sliced root vs manufactured derivative), and origin/legality; secure required CITES permits/certificates and retain chain-of-custody records suitable for border presentation.
Plant Health MediumCFIA regulates importation of certain ginseng seeds/roots/plants to prevent introduction of ginseng anthracnose (Colletotrichum panacicola), requiring permits and phytosanitary documentation for regulated material; misclassification of shipment form or end use can trigger non-compliance actions and delays.Classify the shipment precisely (dried root vs fresh/root crops vs planting material) and align with CFIA directive requirements (or documented exemptions) before dispatch.
Crop Disease And Weather MediumOntario guidance highlights that ginseng production is highly vulnerable to multiple diseases and weather events (e.g., frost damage), with potential for severe yield and quality impacts in adverse years, which can tighten supply availability for dried-root channels sourced from Ontario.Diversify sourcing (multiple growers/lots), use forward contracts where feasible, and maintain contingency inventory for key sales windows.
Price Volatility MediumOntario production guidance describes wide year-to-year price fluctuations and high production risk/cost structure, which can create abrupt changes in availability and pricing for Canadian-origin dried ginseng.Use multi-season procurement planning, agreed quality/grade specs, and flexible pricing clauses tied to verified market benchmarks where available.
Sustainability- Wild American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is described by the federal government as very rare in Canada; wild harvest is considered unsustainable and is protected by law, elevating illegal harvest/trafficking risk in supply chains that cannot document cultivated origin.
- CITES-controlled status for American ginseng roots creates heightened scrutiny and traceability expectations for legality and origin.
FAQ
Do CITES rules apply to exporting dried American ginseng roots from Canada?Yes. Canadian CITES guidance states that the permitting requirement applies to whole or sliced roots and parts of roots of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) whether fresh or dried, and it also states that export of wild American ginseng from Canada is prohibited.
Are dried ginseng roots exempt from CFIA’s ginseng plant-protection import directive?CFIA’s directive D-94-25 lists dried ginseng root for consumption or processing as an exempt commodity under that directive, while other ginseng materials (such as seed, roots, or plants for certain uses) can be regulated with permit and phytosanitary requirements.
If ginseng is imported and sold in Canada as a natural health product, what approvals are typically needed?Health Canada’s commercial import guidance says natural health products must be licensed prior to marketing in Canada, with licensed products identified by an NPN or DIN-HM. The guidance also states that commercial importers must hold a Site Licence for importing natural health products and that the foreign manufacturing site must be listed on the importer’s Site Licence.