U.S. Hemp Market
Perhaps one of the greatest ironies is that the more successful hemp products become in the marketplace, the more we rely on hemp imports to fuel the growth. This unsustainable model exists because of the defective and ambiguous legal status of the industrial hemp plant. So, it is even more remarkable that the state of the U.S. industrial hemp market is vibrant!
The U.S. hemp market has experienced steady growth since 2000. Food, body care, paper products, clothing, textiles, cordage and other items are currently widely available in the U.S. marketplace. A conservative estimate of the total retail value of hemp products sold in the U.S. in 2007 is $350 million.
An increase in sales of hemp food products in stores has been noticeable since 2004 when the Hemp Industries Association (HIA) won a three-year legal battle against the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that permanently protects sales of hemp seed and oil for human consumption. In 2007 hemp milk became common in natural food stores and is one of the leading hemp food products in the marketplace. In 2007 hemp foods became mainstream, even appearing on the popular NBC TODAY Show. Hemp bread, shelled seed, cereal, frozen waffles, snack bars and hemp oil are widely available and can be found every in city and town.
Hemp is also widely listed as an ingredient in natural lotions, balms, soaps, shampoos and conditioners. Hemp clothing is also commonly sold in cities and towns everywhere. Dozens of designers of hemp clothing are manufacturing in the U.S. and importing the textiles from China. Much of the clothing is selling in medium to high-end retail boutiques. Hemp fabric is also routinely described by the media as a "green fabric" because it is pesticide-free and is linked to various solutions to reducing carbon emissions.
So, hemp is everywhere, in our major ports and in consumers' hands across the country — but it is not in the farmer's field.
The U.S. hemp market has experienced steady growth since 2000. Food, body care, paper products, clothing, textiles, cordage and other items are currently widely available in the U.S. marketplace. A conservative estimate of the total retail value of hemp products sold in the U.S. in 2007 is $350 million.
An increase in sales of hemp food products in stores has been noticeable since 2004 when the Hemp Industries Association (HIA) won a three-year legal battle against the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that permanently protects sales of hemp seed and oil for human consumption. In 2007 hemp milk became common in natural food stores and is one of the leading hemp food products in the marketplace. In 2007 hemp foods became mainstream, even appearing on the popular NBC TODAY Show. Hemp bread, shelled seed, cereal, frozen waffles, snack bars and hemp oil are widely available and can be found every in city and town.
Hemp is also widely listed as an ingredient in natural lotions, balms, soaps, shampoos and conditioners. Hemp clothing is also commonly sold in cities and towns everywhere. Dozens of designers of hemp clothing are manufacturing in the U.S. and importing the textiles from China. Much of the clothing is selling in medium to high-end retail boutiques. Hemp fabric is also routinely described by the media as a "green fabric" because it is pesticide-free and is linked to various solutions to reducing carbon emissions.
So, hemp is everywhere, in our major ports and in consumers' hands across the country — but it is not in the farmer's field.
Labels: agriculture, eco-friendly, transportation
posted by Leland Walmsley at
9:31 AM
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