Saw Palmetto Berry Harvesting FAQ

After receiving input from public and private landowners, conservation interests and other interested parties, the Endangered Plant Advisory Council unanimously recommended adding saw palmetto to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ commercially exploited plant list. The recommendation was adopted by department rule, which resulted in new requirements for the harvesting of saw palmetto berries. These new requirements took effect July 17, 2018.

You may either mail in a hard copy of your Permit Application[ ] or you may email it. You may submit a picture of your Permit Application; however, the image and all information must be clearly visible. Incomplete applications may not be processed.

• Mail your application to: Division of Plant Industry, Attn: Plant Inspection, P.O. Box 147100, Gainesville, FL 32614-7100, or
• Email your application to: DPISPB@FDACS.gov

Review of the Permit Application[ ] may take up to 14 business days depending on the information provided. Incomplete applications will delay the permit and possibly prevent you from receiving one. The permit cannot be issued until all information is received.

No. You will need an issued permit from FDACS before harvesting.

No. There is no cost associated with this permit.

An approved Permit Application[ ] issued by FDACS. Pages one and two of the application form must be completed in full. Include your signature on page one. Include the permission letter or letters from the property owner(s) with their signature on page two. There are three pages to the application form. Page three is not required and is used only if you are collecting additional plants or plant parts unrelated to saw palmetto berries. Permits will not be issued for incomplete applications.

The Permit Application[ ] can be submitted anytime throughout the year.

You will need to complete an additional Permission Letter for Harvesting (found on page two of the Permit Application[ ]) for each additional property and include the exact name of the agency or person who applied along with your issued permit number. Once received and reviewed by FDACS, it will be either emailed or mailed back to you with a stamp indicating the permission letter has been added to your permit.

Yes. Both page one and page two of the Permit Application[ ] must be submitted for approval. (Page two contains the Permission Letter for Harvesting.) Incomplete applications may not be processed.

No, but all harvesters, except day workers reporting to a crew leader, must be listed on the Permit Application[ ]. Each harvester should carry a copy of the issued permit with them.

You must obtain permission from the owner of every property you harvest from. Complete page one of the Permit Application[ ] and then complete the Permission Letter for Harvesting (found on page 2 of the Permit Application) for each property. If an owner has multiple properties that you will be harvesting from, then they must complete a Permission Letter for Harvesting for each property.

No. There is no limit unless stipulated by the landowner or your issued permit.

If approved, your permit will be sent to you by email. If you did not include an email address on your Permit Application[ ], the approved permit will be mailed to you.

The permit is valid for one year from the date it was issued. The "valid until" date is located at the top left of the Permit Application[ ], directly under the permit number.

An updated Permit Application[ ] must be completed and resubmitted with the additional harvester(s) listed. If, however, they are day workers reporting to a crew leader and the crew leader is already listed on the permit, an updated application is not required.

No. A new Permit Application[ ] must be submitted each year.

The name you list on that line must be the same as the name of the agency or person applying that is listed on page one of the Permit Application[ ].

Buyers, transporters or processors are not required to have a permit, but they are required to have the following on their person at all times:

• A bill of lading
• A copy of the harvester’s entire permit, which now includes a second page that contains the permission letter(s).

No. Every property must have an individual Permission Letter for Harvesting (found on page two of the Permit Application[ ]).

Page three of the Permit Application[ ] is available for listing any additional plants you plan to harvest. If you are harvesting one species of plant or plant part (for example, saw palmetto berry), page three is not needed.

Only if permission is granted by the proper authority (i.e., county, city, state, etc.) and submitted for approval on a Permit Application[ ].

All permission letters must be submitted on the Permission Letter for Harvesting form (found on page two of the Permit Application[ ]) and submitted together for approval. You may either mail in a hard copy of the form or email an electronic version.

Yes. To request a copy, contact us at 1-888-397-1517 or DPIHelpline@FDACS.gov.

Your permit must be in your possession at all times when you are doing any activity associated with harvested saw palmetto berries.

Yes. Buyers, transporters and processors are required to have a copy of the harvester’s entire permit, which now includes a second page that contains the permission letter(s).

A bill of lading provides documentation of the following:

• Name and address of the shipper or consignor.
• Name and physical address of the receiver or consignee.
• Description of the agricultural goods in the shipment.
• Place and state or country of origin.
• Ultimate destination of the shipment if other than that of the receiver or consignee.

No. The Permit Application[ ] is only for harvesting in the state of Florida. However, as with any agricultural good, you will need to have a bill of lading or similar document to show where the berries were harvested.

Any saw palmetto berries harvested in Florida are required to be transported with the following documents:

• A bill of lading and
• A copy of the harvester’s entire permit, which now includes a second page that contains the permission letter(s).

There is no official season. Harvest depends on where the plants are growing, the amount of local rainfall, and other environmental and market factors. Generally speaking, the season is from August through November.

For questions about saw palmetto berry harvesting, please contact us at 1-888-397-1517 or DPIHelpline@FDACS.gov.