In North America, drying is often carried out in modified tobacco kilns. Once dried, growers usually sell their crop as a single grade to a buyer or broker. The price received depends on the world supply of ginseng, currency exchange rates, market manipulations by the major importers and exporters, market demand and product characteristics. The quality of the product, in turn is influenced by the presence of disease, root age, root size, shape, condition and method of cultivation. Although there are no formal grade standards, highly valued roots are disease-free, old, have a rough surface and are large and variously shaped.
Wild ginseng commands the highest price in Asian markets.
Yields Production statistics for ginseng are difficult to find. The main exporting countries, in decreasing order of production, are China, Korea, the US, Canada and Japan. Markets Hong Kong is currently the major world centre for ginseng trade. Red ginseng is produced in Korea and production is closely regulated by that government. Currently, production areas of ginseng are increasing rapidly both in North America and China.