A Herb Day?

[Guest guest]

After (or, if you prefer, amidst) all our talk about cilantro etc., I found this

item which

came in yesterday on SoFlaVegans list (thanks to fidyl) and though it

appropriate to

pass it on.

 

Best, Pat

 

Industry associations plan Herb Day USA

3/24/2005

 

http://nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?id=58973 & n=wt13 & c=qdrhrvoeraoqydo

 

If mothers, lovers and the president have their

own special days, why

shouldn't herbs? That is the thinking of several

organizations

dedicated to promoting the use of herbs, who are

hoping to hold the

first ever Herb Day USA in spring 2006.

 

Planning for the event is in the early stages and

was discussed at a

meeting held by the American Herbal Products

Association (APHA) at

Expo West last week.

 

The aim is to raise consumer awareness of the

role of herbs through

educational events hosted by retailers, supported

by marketers of

herbal products, and sponsored by the non-profit

organizations.

 

APHA president Michael McGuffin said it will

offset the impact of

negative media attention on herbs and allow the

industry to " take

control of the message, at least for one day, all

over the country. "

 

Through partnerships with retailers the

initiative is also envisaged

as a fundraiser, with a small percentage of

revenue on the day going

to organizations dedicated to preserving herbal

medicine, which Roy

Upton, president of the American Herbal

Pharmacopoeia (AHP) said are

" underfunded but critical to the herb industry " .

 

The Dietary Supplement Education Alliance (DSEA)

has offered $40,000

in funds towards getting the event off the

ground, but this sum needs

to be matched by other sources, such as herbal

products marketers.

 

Besides AHPA and AHP, other organizations

involved in the intiative

are the American Herbalists Guild (AHG), American

Botanical Council

(ABC) and United Plant Savers (UpS).

 

It is hoped that Herb Day USA will become a

bi-annual fixture in the

industry's calendar.

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