Chai-Na-Ta Corp., together with its subsidiaries, engages in growing, processing, and marketing North American ginseng. The company offers ginseng in various forms, such as capsule, slice, tablet, tea, powder, extract, and whole root form, as well as an additive to various consumer products. Ginseng Farming Asian or Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), is a herb indigenous to the mountainous forests of eastern Asia. The North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a woodland plant native to North America. As of December 31, 2008, the company had under lease 473 acres and owned 270 acres of farmland of which 392 are under ginseng cultivation in Ontario. Sales and Marketing The company sells its products primarily in Hong Kong, China, Canada, and the United States. Subsidiaries The company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Chai-Na-Ta Farms Ltd. (CNT Farms), carries out the planting, growing, and harvesting of the company’s ginseng crops. CNT Farms also handles the storage of root inventory and manages the distribution of inventory directly to local customers or to customers in the Far East through CNT Trading (Hong Kong) Limited. CNT Farms also carries out crop research. The company through its wholly owned subsidiary, CNT Trading (Hong Kong) Limited (CNT HK), carries out direct marketing, sales, and distribution functions for North American ginseng in Hong Kong for distribution through Asia. CNT HK sells ginseng roots directly to brokers, distributors, and certain customers in the Far East, primarily China. The company through its wholly-owned subsidiary, CNT Nutraceuticals Ltd. (CNTN), operates a showroom in Richmond, British Columbia and carries out direct marketing and sales of graded roots and ginseng-based value-added products to customers in Canada. History The company was founded in 1981. It was formerly known as Chai-Na-Ta Ginseng Products Limited and changed its name to Chai-Na-Ta Corp. in 1994.