Explaining the Why: Palmetto Berries 

08/13/2021 - Harvesting tiny berries can be big money, also big trouble
Palmetto berry harvesting season is fully underway and is already causing headaches for ranchers - and law enforcement.
As Special Operations/Ag-Marine Lt. William Luther discusses in our first-in-a-series “Explaining the Why with IRCSO,” many of those who harvest palmetto berries for sale often trespass on private property and take the berries without a state-issued permit.
Palmetto berries are considered a “commercially exploited” plant and, as such, require a state permit for harvesting for profit.
Between Aug. 1 and 11, the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 26 people for the illegal harvest of the berries and trespassing. In doing so, the agency confiscated approximately 6,000 pounds of the berries. About a third were returned to the property owner, whose property was trespassed in the harvest. The remaining 4,200 pounds were donated to the Friends of the St. Sebastian River, a local non-profit.
The organization will sell the berries to a center in Palm Bay and funnel the berry-money back into improvements and maintenance of the Buffer Preserve. Currently, the berries are going for approximately $2 per pound.
Palmetto berry harvesting season runs through October.
Property owners are encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office to report trespassers. Berry pickers are reminded they are only allowed to pick on private land if they have the expressed written permission from the property owner as well as a permit from the Florida Department of Agriculture, which is free to get but can take 2 weeks to receive.