Theft of Serenoa repens saw palmetto berries in FL a big problem

[PalmatierMeg]

A recent topic addressed the question of illegal harvesting of Serenoa repens seeds for sale to pharmaceutical companies. See link to article below of huge bust of a berry theft ring in Indian River County. One bust in just one county. These thieves are endangering a native palm.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/florida-authorities-seize-hundreds-pounds-215127348.html

[kinzyjr]

It's a big problem here too since we have highway interchanges loaded with dense plantings of Serenoa repens.  There are very few berries on them once they get anywhere close to ripe, regardless of going to a park or nature preserve.

[flplantguy]

At the ISA conference this year there was a researcher who had her research stolen too.  She was researching how they develop and grow for production purposes because of this problem. The idea being that if a legitimate operation can be viable it will save the natives and make the sales above board.  There are a lot of hurdles though from what she described like slow growth.  I hope it gets figured out soon, if my property had any they are long gone now.