Harvesting saw palmetto berries in Florida requires a permit from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. This permit requirement went into effect July 2018. The permit is free to obtain. In addition to the permit, the harvester must have permission from the landowner to harvest.
Here is the link to the permit:
https://forms.freshfromflorida.com/08025.pdf
Some of the changes to the permit requirements from 2018:
- When applying for the permit, the property owner information and contact number will need to be submitted with the application on the second page.
- When led by a crew leader as a day worker, the picker does not need a permit but the crew leader does. The names of the day workers do not need to be on the permit.
- There still is no fee for the permit. It takes up to 14 days for processing and issuance of the permit.
- Berries cannot be harvested until the permit is in the possession of the harvester.
The Department of Agriculture provides information on their website on the requirements of the statute, including a very informative FAQ section. You can also download the fact sheet pictured below by clicking here.
