Ontario’s exports of ginseng to China, its biggest customer, are being hurt by travel restrictions, Van De Slyke, chairman of Ontario Ginseng Growers Association, has told Reuters news agency.
“Canada’s diplomatic strains with Beijing haven’t helped,” he said.
But the main issue is that in China “everyone is locked down and that’s causing us a big problem,” he said. “We’re hit in all directions here.”
Across Canada, as much as 1.8 million pounds, or 20 per cent of last year’s crop, remains unsold, said Rebecca Coates, executive director of the Ontario growers association.
Canada shipped 354,305 kg worth $11 million to Hong Kong from May through July this year as coronavirus infections peaked in Canada, one-third of the value from the same period a year earlier.
Lately, some buyers have been “circling like sharks” to see if they can purchase for less than the production cost, Coates said.
