[MPWG] new guidelines for certified organic wild crops

[Marla Emery]

Who is doing the actual certifying these days?

Marla R. Emery, Ph.D.
Research Geographer
US Forest Service
Northern Research Station
705 Spear Street
So. Burlington, VT  05403-6102
(802)951-6771 ext. 1111
http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/people/memery



"Penny's Pine Nuts" <penny at pinenut.com> 
Sent by: mpwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org
05/09/2011 01:46 PM

To
<mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org>, <Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov>
cc

Subject
Re: [MPWG] new guidelines for certified organic wild crops






Patricia,
These were our comments: 
http://pinenut.com/blog/blog1.php?title=wild-crop-harvesting-comments-guidelines-for-wild-crops-harvestingnop-5021-ams-nop-10-0048&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
 
IFCAE also submitted comments that helped shaped the USDA's understanding 
of wild crops. I think AHPA submitted, great comments, too.
 
I was very pleased with the "no clear cutting" and that harvesters must 
interviewed by the certifier. We thought that was huge!   The USDA made it 
very clear that the natural habitat must be improved or at least not 
damaged by wild harvesting. I think the USDA stepped up to the plate on 
certified organic wild crops albeit, we did ask for restoration with 
eco-type seeds or cuttings and were turned down on that.
 
Penny
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov 
To: mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org 
Sent: Monday, May 09, 2011 11:14 AM
Subject: Re: [MPWG] new guidelines for certified organic wild crops


Wow. These two excerpts are of particular interest... 

"Minimal agricultural practices, such as re-seeding from and pruning of 
existing plants or the removal of non-native species, along with the 
sustainable harving of the wild crops may be employed and, in some cases, 
even required by other jurisdictions to support the long-term cviability 
of the habitat."   

"Section 205.200 states that production practices must maintain or improve 
the natural resources of an operation under organic certification...[which 
also applies to wild-certifed crops].  Unmanaged, untrained and uninformed 
harvesting of wild products from a wild habitat without maintaining or 
improving the natural resouces can disqualify the wild products from 
organic certification." 

This seems to be a more pragmatic approach that address two important 
concerns about ecologically-appropriate activities: It recognizes that 
good stewardship practices don't relegate an otherwise wild resource to 
being a "crop."  It also "allows" the harvester to preserve and promote 
conservation of local germplasm.   

Penny, I suspect you submitted comments! 
-Patricia 

Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.
Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority
Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group
US Fish & Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 110
Arlington, VA  22203
703-358-1708 x1753
FAX: 703-358-2276

Promoting sustainable use and conservation of our native medicinal plants.
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>



"Penny's Pine Nuts" <penny at pinenut.com> 
Sent by: mpwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org 
05/06/2011 01:52 PM 


To
<mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org> 
cc

Subject
[MPWG] new guidelines for certified organic wild crops








http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5090757 
  
Some very progressive changes to the national organic program wild crops 
certification. 
 
 
 
 
_______________________________________________
PCA's Medicinal Plant Working Group mailing list
MPWG at lists.plantconservation.org
http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/mpwg_lists.plantconservation.org

To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to MPWG-request at lists.plantconservation.org 
with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

Disclaimer
Any advice given on this list regarding diagnosis or treatments etc. 
reflects ONLY the opinion of the individual who posts the message. The 
information contained in posts is not intended nor implied to be a 
substitute for professional medical advice relative to your specific 
medical condition or question. All medical and other healthcare 
information that is discussed on this list should be carefully reviewed by 
the individual reader and their qualified healthcare professional. Posts 
do not reflect any official opinions or positions of the Plant 
Conservation Alliance.                                                     



_______________________________________________
PCA's Medicinal Plant Working Group mailing list
MPWG at lists.plantconservation.org
http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/mpwg_lists.plantconservation.org


To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to MPWG-request at lists.plantconservation.org 
with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

Disclaimer
Any advice given on this list regarding diagnosis or treatments etc. 
reflects ONLY the opinion of the individual who posts the message. The 
information contained in posts is not intended nor implied to be a 
substitute for professional medical advice relative to your specific 
medical condition or question. All medical and other healthcare 
information that is discussed on this list should be carefully reviewed by 
the individual reader and their qualified healthcare professional. Posts 
do not reflect any official opinions or positions of the Plant 
Conservation Alliance.
_______________________________________________
PCA's Medicinal Plant Working Group mailing list
MPWG at lists.plantconservation.org
http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/mpwg_lists.plantconservation.org


To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to MPWG-request at lists.plantconservation.org 
with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

Disclaimer
Any advice given on this list regarding diagnosis or treatments etc. 
reflects ONLY the opinion of the individual who posts the message. The 
information contained in posts is not intended nor implied to be a 
substitute for professional medical advice relative to your specific 
medical condition or question. All medical and other healthcare 
information that is discussed on this list should be carefully reviewed by 
the individual reader and their qualified healthcare professional. Posts 
do not reflect any official opinions or positions of the Plant 
Conservation Alliance. 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.plantconservation.org/pipermail/mpwg_lists.plantconservation.org/attachments/20110509/d4ccb1a7/attachment.html>