{"id":17129,"date":"2016-08-17T11:57:56","date_gmt":"2016-08-17T15:57:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.boironca.dreamhosters.com\/blog\/?p=387"},"modified":"2023-12-18T18:00:17","modified_gmt":"2023-12-18T18:00:17","slug":"arnica-harvest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.boiron.ca\/en\/all\/arnica-harvest\/","title":{"rendered":"Arnica Harvest"},"content":{"rendered":"

Arnica Fact #4<\/h2>\n

Harvest conditions<\/h3>\n

Harvesting Arnica requires know\u2011how and experience. However, the species is threatened by human activity. To preserve it, all of the people involved in its growth have signed an exemplary agreement.<\/p>\n

\"DSC_6811_hd\"<\/p>\n

Adjust to Nature\u2019s Rhythm<\/h3>\n

From the season to the weather to the harvesting equipment\u2014everything you need to know about the conditions for harvesting Arnica.<\/p>\n

Harvesting Arnica montana is something that is earned. First of all, you must not miss your window of opportunity: this wildflower is harvested in high\u2011altitude meadows (above 800\u00a0m), between approximately June 1 and July 20. The harvest period varies depending on the maturity of the plant, which depends on the regions and climate conditions. Nature also imposes its rhythm on the harvesters, who must follow the progression of the vegetation geographically: they start in the south of France and finish high up in the Alps.<\/p>\n

In addition, the harvest greatly depends on the weather. \u201cWe have to adjust to the various climate changes; we change regions when the temperature drops to freezing, and we go higher in altitude when it is too hot in a region and we arrive too late for blooming,\u201d explains R\u00e9gis Buffi\u00e8re, a medicinal plant gatherer for 30\u00a0years.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cSometimes, the weather can stop gathering for 3 to 4 days, or even longer, even though we know that the plants are at the optimal harvesting point,\u201d adds Vincent Deschandol, a professional picker from Ard\u00e8che.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

As far as picking is concerned, it requires a suitable tool (like a knife or pruning knife) only if the client\u2019s order concerns the upper part of the plant or the flower. For Laboratoires Boiron, Arnica montana is hand\u2011picked by picking teams, which harvest the entire plant with several centimetres of roots (part of the rhizome is left in the ground). In this case, a pair of gloves is all you need to avoid blisters!<\/p>\n

Finally, the pickers make sure that the plant has no weeds, dirt or insects in it; it must be as clean as possible.<\/p>\n

Arnica Fact #5<\/h2>\n

Method<\/h3>\n

The harvest is a key step: the Arnica must be picked, stored and delivered to Laboratoires Boiron in no more than 48\u00a0hours.<\/p>\n

Ensuring Arnica\u2019s Quality and Freshness<\/h3>\n
\n

\u201cA good day of picking generally starts\u2026several days ahead of time, or even several weeks! Scouting is an important, fundamental and inevitable phase,\u201d insists R\u00e9gis Buffi\u00e8re.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

For 30 years, this professional picker has been scouring the areas where Arnica montana grows and noting down everything in his notebook: the place to find it, the\u00a0GPS coordinates, etc. And he even takes pictures with his smartphone! This preparatory work makes it possible for him to agree to orders.<\/p>\n

\"post<\/p>\n

Once the picking zone has been determined, organization is then necessary to optimize the harvest. This is even more important due to the fact that this is a seasonal job. The day therefore starts very early. \u201cFor a good picking day, you have to get up early, because you can\u2019t arrive at 10 or 11 a.m. at the site, or it\u2019s not worth going!\u201d explains Vincent Deschandol, a professional picker in Ard\u00e8che.<\/p>\n

    \n
  • A few simple rules need to be followed to ensure the perfect quality of the Arnica:<\/li>\n
  • Perfect hygiene: Pickers wash their hands before harvesting<\/li>\n
  • Place the plants vertically in openwork bags (or in crates) to ensure better conservation<\/li>\n
  • Place the bags in the shade so the plants do not heat up<\/li>\n
  • Store and transport the Arnica in clean, refrigerated trucks<\/li>\n
  • Delivery to laboratories Boiron must take place within 48 hours<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
    \n

    \u201cFor Arnica, like for all our wild plants, there is only 48 hours between picking and delivery. This way, we guarantee high quality raw material,\u201d concludes Fran\u00e7oise Merceron, a pharmacist and head of plant\u2011purchasing for Laboratoires Boiron.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    Did You Know?<\/h3>\n

    Access to Arnica montana is not free. Though it is wild, the plant always grows on land that has an owner, either public or private (the state via the French National Forests Office, or ONF, the city, etc.). Therefore, the harvesters must ask for authorization to pick.<\/p>\n

    Arnica Fact #6<\/h2>\n

    Gradual disappearance<\/h3>\n

    Arnica montana, which has been weakened by human activity, must be protected to survive. Signed by all the people involved in production, the Markstein Agreement is exemplary.<\/p>\n

    \"post<\/h4>\n

    How to Preserve Arnica<\/h3>\n

    Arnica montana is caught between a rock and a hard place. On one side, there is an increasing demand from pharmaceutical companies for this wild plant known for its medicinal properties. On the other, it is a species weakened by intensive agriculture and the fertilization of the soil.<\/p>\n

    As a result, we are witnessing the gradual disappearance of Arnica montana.<\/p>\n

    Good Practice at Boiron<\/h3>\n

    To ensure the survival of the species and to promote biodiversity, Laboratoires Boiron has also set up good practices for picking in detailed specifications. The first rule followed by the pickers is that they agree to pick only 30% of a site\u2019s potential.<\/p>\n

    This observation is particularly true in the Markstein region, south of the Vosges, which is one of the largest picking sites in Europe. To protect this place, which is unique in France, and to ensure the survival of the species, an exemplary agreement was signed in June\u00a02007 by all of the people involved in production: farmers, mayors, pickers, pharmaceutical company representatives, the French National Forrest Office (ONF) heads, and the Vosges Association for the Mountain Economy (AVEM).<\/p>\n

    The Markstein Agreement aims to organize the people involved in the harvesting of Arnica montana in the Markstein\u2011Grand Ballon sector and to ensure the conservation of the plant as a common resource.<\/p>\n

    Among other things, it provides for:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • picking plants that are in full bloom,<\/li>\n
    • leaving one flowering stem in place every 5 m and the wilting capitula,<\/li>\n
    • and hand picking only.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Boiron has signed this agreement and is committed to respecting Arnica montana every day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Arnica Fact #4 Harvest conditions Harvesting Arnica requires know\u2011how and experience. However, the species is threatened by human activity. To preserve it, all of the people involved in its growth have signed an exemplary agreement. Adjust to Nature\u2019s Rhythm From the season to the weather to the harvesting equipment\u2014everything you need to know about the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":185528,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[71,74],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17129","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-homeopathy"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boiron.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17129","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boiron.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boiron.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boiron.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boiron.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17129"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.boiron.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17129\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":223256,"href":"https:\/\/www.boiron.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17129\/revisions\/223256"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boiron.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/185528"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boiron.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17129"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boiron.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17129"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boiron.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17129"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}