Going crazy for goji berries

 

Can it be that goji, the supposed legendary miracle fruit of ancient Tibet, is being grown in Dinuba, Calif.?

Nothing is surprising when it comes to this tiny orange berry. Virtually unknown in the United States five years ago, it is now seemingly everywhere -- in martinis, granola, nutritional supplements, even Lindsay Lohan’s tanning spray.

But so far, this much-hyped “superfruit,” so trendy and expensive, is available only in processed form, in imported juices, powders and dried berries; the fresh berries themselves, eagerly sought by aficionados, have been unobtainable in the United States. That may be changing.

-- David Karp

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Comments

[Richere Tompkins]

Dear Ken,

It should be said that "marketers, who think they are selling 'Goji berries from Tibet,' have ALL been hoaxed." There is no such thing, in America, as a "Tibetan, or Himalayan Goji berry."

Wolfberry/Goji is NOT indiginous to Tibet. It is NOT grown commercially in Tibet. And, it is NOT exported anywhere from Tibet. This hoax was perpetrated, and continues to be promulgated, by Earl Mindell, and his "Freelife Goji/GoChi Scam." Don't be fooled, but don't throw out the baby (Lycium barbarum L.- True Goji) with the bathwater.

Data Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfberry

[Ken]

Like many readers, I would be most interested to learn how it was that in the autumn of 2008, "scientists confirmed" that the claim by some marketers selling dried goji berries from Tibet is "almost always a hoax". And when it wasn't a hoax, how did they determine that?

[Richere Tompkins]

I would like to thank David Karp, and the Los Angles Times, for finally exposing some truth about this amazing herb. The damage, caused by greed, continues to harm all of us, including the reputation of the amazing Goji Tree. It is harder than ever to know whom we can trust.

We, at GojiTrees.com, have uncovered many scams over the past 5 years, and have had modest success growing this amazing plant. We hope to do better next year with the more "water tolerant" No. 1 of Ning-qi Goji seed. Please visit us for "continuous scam up-dates," and for "free" Goji Growing Instruction." We love to share our experience, and there is never a charge for information.

Until you can "grow your own," we believe you will search the world over, and not find a better Goji Product than those provided by Rich Nature Nutraceutical Labs, Inc.!! Thank you so much for your great reporting, your kind words, and wonderful endorsement.

Warmest Regards,

Rich Tompkins
www.GojiTrees.com

[cybele]

This whole Goji berry craze is absurd.

It's grown as an ornamental shrub all over the UK and Europe where it's known as the Wolfberry.

They don't even grow marketable amounts of Goji in Tibet ... it's mostly cultivated in Ningxia (Mongolia).

[jim]

It takes up to five years from seed to berry.