Milk Thistle Seeds
Answered by: Rick Miller
Question from: Basar
Posted on: February 04, 2010

I would like to produce and export milk thistle seeds. What is the price and demand in this market?

The current demand for this crop, as Mexican and Canadian production has fallen way off. Most of it now comes from India, with world market demands now exceeding 15,000 acres. Imported seed now is up to $4.00/lb, with organic certification being more than double that amount in large wholesale quantities.

New demand from European sources have led this to become a cultivated crop. Problems with larvae require it to often requiring sterilized. Organic manufacturers have trouble locating "clean" seed that does not require sterilization. Your region may be cold enough to kill the larvae during the winter, choking it out of a given region. That is something that varies from year to year in your region.

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