Seeking out fair trade products is also great when possible.
Te FairWild certification, for example, works toward ecological, social and economic sustainability in the supply chain of wild- collected products.
What key trends are you seeing in the herbal industry?
Tere is a trend toward regenerative farming, which focuses on issues like how cultivating plants affects soil and biodiversity. Tere is also a new focus on social equity for people growing and collecting herbs, as many of them are living on the fringes of society in precarious situations. We are doing case studies to look at details like how the structure of contracts and timing of payments affect smallholder herb farmers so we can make appropriate recommendations and hold companies accountable.
What gives you the most hope about the herbal industry right now?
Te people I got to know in my travels are working really hard to take care of the plants and of the communities to bring a sense of ethics, equity and transparency into the system. A lot of money is made at the very end of the value chain and not at the source. Individuals and companies in the industry are working to address these imbalances. More consumers are asking questions and becoming
empowered citizens, and that also gives me hope. When I studied herbal medicine, what was most powerful for me was learning simple ways to take care of myself and my then-1- year-old daughter. Learning to make these simple remedies was deeply empowering. Without that knowledge, it’s easy to be overwhelmed walking through the supplement aisle of the drugstore, not knowing where to begin other than to read labels and try to compare one marketing claim to another. Taking steps to learn more about herbs and where they come from helps people make a shiſt from consumer to citizen. Tat level of engagement also brings more meaning and connection, which people are hungering for.
Connect with Washington, D.C., freelance writer April Tompson at
AprilWrites.com.
Local Organic Herbal Resources
LEAVES & ROOTS 9476 E. Colonial Dr, Orlando • 407-823-8840 460 N. Ronald Reagan Blvd, Longwood • 321-422-0815
NATURAL VIBEZ 4353 Edgewater Dr, Orlando • 407-730-6198
SERENITEA APOTHECARY 1008 W. State Rd 434, Longwood • 321-972-6514
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