Third Annual North Carolina Natural Products Association Conference

Please join us at the 3rd Annual Natural Products Conference:

Cultivating the New Wellness-Driven Economy in North Carolina
November 17-18, 2006
Friday 12 pm – 8 pm
Saturday 8 am – 6 pm

At the Broyhill Inn & Conference Center
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC

Registration information:

The cost for this year’s conference is $95 for North Carolina Natural Products Association (NCNPA) members; $135 for all others.

• Please click here to download a printable registration form.

After completing the form, please mail it with payment to:
NCNPA
455 Research Drive
Fletcher, NC 28732.

Checks only. Registration and other fees are non-refundable.

If you'd prefer to request a conference packet via mail, please use our contact form

Program:
On Friday, November 17th we will offer six half-day workshops, and one day-long workshop followed in the evening by dinner and an evening social featuring a keynote address by Michael McGuffin, President of the American Herbal Products Association.

Friday Workshops
Pre-registration is required for Friday's workshops. Space is Limited.

On Saturday, November 18th, we will offer five tracks, each consisting of four sessions. While the exact time schedule has not been developed, you can find the courses listed below. Saturday morning will feature a continental breakfast followed by an address from George Briggs, Chairman of the Board of NCNPA. During lunch, we will hear a plenary address from Loren Israelson, Executive Director of the Utah Natural Products Alliance. After the sessions, there will be a late afternoon roundtable discussion lead by George Briggs and Greg Cumberford outlining the next steps needed to cultivate the wellness-driven economy in North Carolina.

Saturday Sessions:
1. Natural Health and Wellness
o Wellness and Preventative Medicine in WNC – TBD
o Panel on Integrative Medicine – Dr. Susan Gaylord, UNC Chapel Hill
o The Issue of Heavy Metals in Natural Products – Dr. Keith Levine, Research Triangle Institute
o Herbs for Stress, Insomnia, and Energy: Growing Opportunities – Omar Cruz, Gaia Herbs

2. Science and Natural Biotechnology
o The International Center for Natural Biotechnology and Integrative Medicine – Cheryl McMurry of the NC Biotechnology Center, Dr. Jeff Schmitt of Wake Forest University, and Greg Cumberford of Gaia Herbs
o Ecological Pharmacology – Kevin Spelman, UNC Greensboro
o Quality of Herbal Drugs: Is the Glass Half Full or Half Empty – Dr. Nick Oberlies of Research Triangle Institute and Selester Bennett of Nature Diagnostics
o Biofuels in the High Country – Dr. Jeff Ramsdale at Appalachian State University

3. Business of Natural Products
o Successful Natural Products Businesses Panel – Annice Brown of the Small Business and Technology Development Center, Red Alderman of Wounded Warrior, and Belinda Pardue of Botanical Supply Inc.
o What Really Matters – Loren Israelson of the Utah Natural Products Alliance, and Michael McGuffin of the American Herbal Products Association
o The Future of Natural Products – TBD
o Good Manufacturing Practices/Good Agricultural Practices for Medicinal Herbs – Ed Fletcher of Strategic Sourcing, and Michael McGuffin

4. Regional Opportunities
o Adding Value to a Mountain Tradition: Ramps – Beverly Whitehead of Smoky Mountain Native Plants Association
o Adventures of a Natural Products Marketer – John Grassby of Yampa Valley Botanicals and Robin Suggs of MoonBranch Botanicals
o Functional Foods – TBD
o Mobile Quality Assessment – Dr. Grant Holder of Appalachian State University

5. Horticulture
o Using the USDA Germplasm Collection – Dr. Joe-Ann McCoy, USDA
o Forest Production of Ginseng – TBD
o Opportunities with Woodland Botanicals – Dr. Jeanine Davis of NC State University
o Commercial Production of Organic Field Medicinals – Jackie Greenfield and Ric Scalzo of Gaia Herbs

Exhibitor Booths:
Exhibitor booths are limited. Booth Space is 10’ x 10’ and cost is $95, including set-up for both days. (Does not include conference registration or any meals.) Please contact us for more information.

Choose & Cut Christmas Trees:
For conference attendees interested in purchasing a Christmas tree, we will be working with a local tree farm to offer you a beautiful, WNC-grown Christmas tree at a great price. Time: Ongoing throughout the weekend.

Conference Meals:
Your registration fee covers dinner Friday night, a continental breakfast Saturday morning, and Saturday lunch. Please indicate on your registration form if you would like a vegetarian meal.

Directions: available online at www.broyhillinn.com

Hotel Information:
A limited number of rooms have been reserved at the Broyhill Inn for November 17 and 18 for $59.75 per night for a single and $79.00 for a double. Reservations must be made prior to October 17th to get the discounted price. Call the Broyhill Inn directly to make reservations at 1-800-951-6048. Additional rooms have also been reserved at the Holiday Inn Express. For both, be sure to mention you are with the NC Natural Products Association.

Questions? Contact Lindsay Benedict.
Office: (828)665-2492; Cell (828)777-5747; or email: lbenedict@ncarboretum.org.

For more information click here.

See you in November!