RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Virginia’s four-month wild ginseng harvest season is underway. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says the season runs through the end of the year. The agency regulates ginseng harvest and sales in Virginia. Wild American ginseng is listed as a threatened species in the state. People planning to ship or transport ginseng from Virginia in amounts greater than eight ounces per year must have it certified by the agency. Individuals buying or accepting ginseng for sale must obtain a license. Only ginseng that’s at least 5 years old can be harvested. Regulations also prohibit harvesting wild ginseng that has fewer than four stem scars on its rhizome or has fewer than three prongs. The regulations don’t apply to people who harvest wild ginseng on their own land.
