MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Under a new deal Wisconsin ginseng growers will sell to only one distributor in China.
Ginseng Board of Wisconsin Vice President Kirk Baumann says the deal reached with Chinese company Tong Ren Tang will protect the brand name of Wisconsin ginseng sold in China.
Gov. Jim Doyle says finding ways to market Wisconsin ginseng in China and protect the name has been a challenge for growers in the state. He says this agreement will lead to increased sales in China.
Tong Ren Tang is a 300-year-old company that has 3,000 locations throughout China.
Baumann says the deal will help stabilize prices for Wisconsin growers and should lead to an increase in production.
Wisconsin produces about 95 percent of the country's ginseng and China is the top market.
