HLM -Chapter 1115 A Visit

These breeding companies didn’t make money by selling raw ginseng seeds. They typically sold seeds that had already been pre-germinated, which were much more expensive—ten thousand seeds could cost over ten thousand dollars.

Wang Bo considered the area of the forest and decided to place an order for fifty thousand seeds at once.

The breeding company promised that their pre-germinated Chinese ginseng seeds had a germination rate exceeding 92%. With a 10% buffer for replanting, this meant that under suitable conditions, fifty thousand seeds would eventually grow into fifty thousand ginseng seedlings.

Ginseng itself wasn’t particularly valuable anywhere, but Wang Bo’s situation was different. When he sold it later, he could market it as wild ginseng.

Wild ginseng generally grows in broadleaf forests dominated by oak and linden trees or in mixed coniferous-broadleaf forests. The forest behind the castle was primarily broadleaf. In addition, ginseng preferred cool climates, with annual rainfall preferably above 1,000 milliliters, and had strict requirements for sunlight.

Fortunately, the forests on the South Island met these requirements. And if no one interfered during growth after planting, then what grew would essentially be wild ginseng.

Wang Bo had originally planned to place the order himself, but when the supplier learned he wanted ginseng seeds, Atulu said with a laugh, “Boss, I’ll handle the purchase for you—it’ll save quite a bit of money.”

According to a report released earlier this year by New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries, under the Māori Economic Development Plan, the government intends to support a number of distinctive Māori agricultural projects before 2040, encouraging them to leverage their strengths to create wealth.

This included the ginseng industry: Māori with natural advantages such as highlands and forests would receive priority support.

Of course, theoretically, the government supported Māori enterprises. But most Māori were naturally laid-back, so there were few enterprises, and even fewer interested in ginseng cultivation. Under these circumstances, even ordinary Māori families could receive support.

Planting ginseng wasn’t just scattering seeds and leaving them; one had to visit and learn.

From planting to harvest was a long process. Wang Bo didn’t have the time or energy to personally care for them, but he trusted that the heart of the forest would nurture the ginseng.

He didn’t need to learn how to cultivate ginseng himself, but he wanted to visit and see how the seeds should be planted.

The agricultural company responsible for plant breeding was headquartered in Takuti, a small town 80 kilometers south of Hamilton, specifically called MaraeroaC Company.

Founded in 1973, the company leased a Māori territory—an area of 5,555 hectares of mountains and forest—for professional ginseng trials and commercial cultivation.

Wang Bo was about to buy seeds worth over fifty thousand dollars, making him a mid-sized client at least. The company assigned a planting worker to accompany them to visit the breeding and planting bases.

The worker’s name was Pete, a mixed-race man of European and Māori descent. While guiding Wang Bo and the group, he introduced: “Our company’s ginseng brand is mainly Pirou High Mountain Ginseng. The Chinese ginseng you’re interested in is newly introduced. Honestly, it’s very difficult to grow.”

Wang Bo smiled. “But if it’s grown well, its value is huge. My target market is China—Chinese people love Chinese ginseng the most.”

Pete nodded. “I know that. Actually, our ginseng is mainly sold to China and other East Asian countries. The market atmosphere there is the best.”

Ginseng cultivation in New Zealand could be traced back to 1973, when a company in Canterbury made the first attempt. Over the next twenty-plus years, many enterprises tried cultivating it in various places across both islands.

Commercially significant cultivation only began around 2000, mainly in the Bay of Plenty and central North Island regions.

Although Pete was only a planting worker, he knew a lot about the market. After introducing Wang Bo to New Zealand’s ginseng industry, he added:

“Currently, global ginseng trade is about 15,000 tons per year and steadily increasing. In terms of consumption, as Chinese people become more health-conscious, the demand for high-quality ginseng is rising.”

Wang Bo nodded. “High-quality ginseng can be grown in New Zealand, right?”

Pete smiled. “Exactly. According to reports from the National Crop and Food Survey Center, the ecology of central South Island—terrain, sunlight, soil, moisture—is comparable or even superior to Northeast China and Korea, making it ideal for ginseng cultivation.”

“Especially in highland forests, the shade of towering trees provides excellent conditions for ginseng growth. Take Pirou High Mountain Ginseng, for example: although sowing and transplanting are done by humans, the entire process occurs deep in the mountains. The pure wild environment ensures the ginseng’s quality and natural purity.”

“What about Chinese ginseng?”

Pete shrugged. “Not many people grow it. Previously, one company tried planting around the West Titira Peaks, but the harvest was poor. Honestly, you don’t necessarily have to focus only on Chinese ginseng—other types are good too.”

Wang Bo replied, “I’m Chinese, and my family has been growing ginseng for generations. I know how to cultivate it, whereas many of you don’t.”

Hearing this, Pete immediately became respectful. “So you have a family tradition in ginseng cultivation—that’s truly remarkable. But do you have good sales channels?”

Although there were many favorable policies and environmental conditions, New Zealand’s ginseng industry still faced two major bottlenecks.

First was initial funding. Ginseng fetched a high international price, but with a seven-year growth cycle and labor costs for cultivation and management, families and enterprises faced significant financial pressure upfront.

Second was sales. Most New Zealand companies didn’t understand the Chinese market, especially second- and third-tier cities. They lacked competitive marketing and distribution channels—they knew China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand demanded ginseng, but didn’t know how to sell it there.

Wang Bo didn’t have a sales channel either, but he had sales skills: “If flowers bloom, butterflies come. It’s a Chinese saying, and it applies to ginseng cultivation as well. With good ginseng, who wouldn’t buy it?”

Pete said, “That’s a very sensible saying. Indeed, that’s true. Come on, I’ll show you our ginseng seedlings.”

Wang Bo was buying pre-germinated seeds, which had already sprouted and just needed planting.

Pete explained that ginseng plots required soil with high organic content, loose texture, good aeration, and drainage. The ideal pH was 5.0–6.5; ginseng needed slightly acidic soil.

“If the groundwater level is high, the land is low and damp, poorly aerated, compacted, poorly drained, clayey, or alkaline, ginseng cannot be grown,” Pete warned.