Echinacea Prices 2005

I am interested in growing echinancea augustifolia on a small scale and wanted to ask you how is the current demand and market for it. I would appreciate if you can kindly send latest 2005 market prices, yield per acre and demand info to me.

Prices for Echinacea angustifolia COG have not changed in the last two years. They remain at $14.00-18.00/lb, FOB [all figures in U.S. dollars]. Wildcrafted product is even cheaper, down to almost $8.00/lb., FOB. I do expect those prices to change with the new crop harvests in late October.
There seems to be inventories and good surpluses, driving the prices downward. Some of the more experienced growers are contracting their crops prior to harvest, also adding to the lower prices. I do expect spot prices for quality root to increase upward toward the $22.00-26.00/lb range for product out of Alberta, Manitoba, Montana, and North Dakota.
Most consider these regions to produce the best qualities because of the rootbark formation due to dryness and no rain. These regions only get their water primarily from snowpack, thereby causing the root to form more rootbark. This is where the chicoric acid is found.
I written a book on how to grown and market this crop, part of Richters Small Farm Series. It can be found with other PDF downloadable books at www.herbfarminfo.com