Florida - Thursday August 10, 2023: The Fellsmere Police Department is reminding area residents that the City of Fellsmere does not allow berry harvesting on any city property and it is illegal to harvest berries on state land, such as at the St. Sebastian Buffer Preserve.
Harvesting and transporting palmetto berries without a permit is a crime. The crimes most affiliated with the unlawful harvesting of palmetto berries are trespassing, theft, and cutting fences.
The saw palmetto berry is designated as “a commercially exploited plant species” and harvesting is regulated by the state. Harvesters must have a permit to pick berries and must have permission to pick them on all property, whether public or private. The permission must be in writing from property owners to harvest berries. The written permission letter must be provided as part of the permit application process.
Area residents are always on the lookout for illegal berry picking and will not hesitate to contact law enforcement about suspicious people or suspicious vehicles parked on the side of, or operating on local roadways.
According to the Florida Department of Agriculture, “applications may be submitted anytime throughout the year. Harvesters are encouraged to submit their applications for a permit earlier in the year to avoid delays in processing time during peak harvest season”.
Learn more at: https://www.fdacs.gov/.../Saw-Palmetto-Berry-Harvesting
So, what is the big deal with these berries anyway? - https://www.marketwatch.com/.../saw-palmetto-berries....