Organic Goji Berries - Source Them and Grow Them!

Organic Goji berries are effective, safe, inexpensive alternatives to commercial Goji products. The Goji plant is known by the scientific name Lycium barbarum and its berries are called Lycium berries, wolfberries, or simply Goji.

Whether grown in China or in North America, organic Goji is probably the same. The only difference may be in the pesticides used, which may be applicable no matter where the berries are grown.

In this regard, the fact that berries are purported to be from a particular place (e.g., Tibet, the Himalayas, Inner Mongolia, or some person's backyard) is no assurance that they are indeed organic.

In the last three years, the US Food and Drug Administration rejected nine Goji shipments due to high pesticide levels. However, that number is small compared to other produce shipments that were rejected over the same period, most notably Ginseng (60 shipments).

That the Goji was grown in America is no assurance either since a number of locally grown produce use pesticides as well.

Organic Goji Berries – How to Ensure they are Organic

Consumers should be wary of Goji treated with sulfur, no matter where they come from. Sulfur turns Goji a bright, red-orange color. Aside from color, the only other way to tell if the Goji was fumigated with sulfur is to check the pH level. Goji should have a pH level above 5.

It is better to source the berries from an organic grocer you are familiar with and already trust for other organic produce. Sources connected with universities and colleges are typically also reliable sources. For example, one of the cheapest sources of organic Goji in North America ($6/pound) is the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine's herbal grocery along Grand St., New York City.

But the best way to ensure that the Goji you eat is indeed organic is to grow it yourself.

How to Grow Organic Goji

Goji may be grown in the ground or in a pot. Buy Goji seeds or take them from fresh berries, which may contain as much as a couple of dozen seeds. With some good soil, a moderate amount of water and sunlight, and time, you can harvest your own berries. You can even use a juicer to create something similar – maybe even better in terms of purity – to expensive commercial Goji juice supplements.

However, be prepared to wait a year or two before your first harvest. Goji is pretty tough and can withstand temperatures below 10 degrees, and is not known to be prone to any kind of plant disease.

Expect your Goji plant to grow five or six feet. In the ground, you will be able to produce a shrub of small to moderate size. Its flowers look like purple bells and bloom starting late spring. The flowers last all summer until fall, after which your organic Goji berries will begin to appear and ripen within the season.

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