Buying roots.... Should I?

I've been approached about buying roots for someone, Now just for reference I did for a short time buy roots back in the early 2000s,
Just Goldenseal and bloodroot. While it wasn't a big money maker I did make a little,
Now his guy says I'm in the perfect area, (Perry county Indiana) and he will pay be so much for the roots and pick them up here, He wants goldenseal, bloodroot and mayapple.
My question to you all especially Don is, Is there much demand for a root buying business? Most of the diggers I know are dead or too old to dig anymore?
Is it worth the hassle?
How many pounds do you guys average a day?
Just hoping for some input as I'm unsure if it's feasible to do this, thanks Chuck

I`m not a buyer but wish someone around me would buy bloodroot,mayapple,wild ginger and other roots than just goldenseal and ginseng.

ive got a buddy here in arkansas that just buys from local diggers and ships out of state and does pretty good when he takes a load north.

already having a place to get rid of them is a huge step.

Yeah I know, I'm thinking of doing it and see how it goes,

Chuck if you know the man and trust him, give it a shot. The biggest problem I have is getting people to clean the product correct and get it dry enough. Buyers do not want dirt in roots and they want the off roots picked out. Be very careful of mold on the herbs. You probably won't make a great deal of money until you get established. There is already at least 4 buyers in the area you talk about starting in. They are not setting right in Perry county, but diggers do travel for better prices. I personally push the (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) out of the Ginseng and Goldenseal market as does Duncan and Wanda Sikes. From what I see, competition is a big factor in the root market. I also buy a lot of Blood root, but the Blood root market got soft a couple years ago. 3 years ago I payed up to $18.00 a pound on blood root. A lot of Nickle Dime roots are not worth the time to handle them. There is loads of cheap roots that you can make .35 to .50 cents a pound, but people don't like to produce the dang things in big enough amts. to make any money. The root business is funny market and can be quite a pain in the rear end at times.
Just a small example. Doyle Flory and I did a lot of business in woods grown Ginseng. You may have heard the story of the thief that got into his Ginseng beds. I knew what Doyle's roots looked like and he had contacted me right after he got robbed. Funny thing the man that had stolen his Ginseng ended up at least 250 miles from Doyle's place to my place to sell me Doyle's Ginseng. I of course then Had to make an excuse to go to the house and call Doyle to give him an idea of what the man looked like and the type of root he had to sell. So we both agreed we had the thief. I had to buy some of the seng so we could prosecute the man. So in the end, it all worked out, The CO of the county contacted myself and we filled out some questions and the thief had his day in court and lost.

Thank you Don, Your word on this means a lot! I think I'll try and see how it goes,thanks Chuck

I take Don's word as gospel,best of luck to ya.

Chucker, if your buyer don't work out for you, I could also use another buyer. I take pretty darn good care of my root buyers that buy for me.
That would go for any body that wants into the root business. I could use another buyer that is mostly east of Illinois. I can also use another buyer in Illinois. The fella that used to buy for me, died about 4 years ago, maybe a little longer. The guy that used to buy for me was named Jerome.

Don, I'm in Orange County, do you have someone up this way buying for you?

I don't have anybody in Indiana buying for me. Your location says So. Ind. I didn't think Orange county is in So. Ind. send me a pm.

Chuck how goes the root buying in your start up going?