I agree with native since when being a good question. Each state has a list of exotic sp. versus native sp. In NYC we had a list of natives and exotics for the region. Invasive introductions have caused devastation to ecosystems and brought some species to near extinction. The chestnut blight was brought here through exotic lumber or exotic chestnut trees. This fungus has virtually wiped out the native chestnut. 1000's of trees have had to be cut down because of the Asian Longhorn Beetle. Invasive sp. decrease biodiversity. Not all exotics are invasive but all invasives are exotic. Until we have an understanding as to how a species will affect a given ecosystem we should not introduce it. Native plants promote native fauna, biodiversity, and a healthy ecosystem.<div>
<br></div><div>I don't think anyone should be forced to buy native plants. I do think people should make educated decisions. After carefully reading and weighing the evidence I think the educated decision will become clear. It is true that not everyone can afford higher priced goods. But if you look at the longterm effect of our buying decisions you may find that that more expensive item is going to last you longer or perform better and therefore save you money in the long run. If you look beyond that and query into how that inexpensive item is made, what environmental regulations are being avoided, and what labor is being exploited, you have to ask yourself if that cheaper item doesn't come with other costs that you are not willing to pay.</div>
<div><br></div><div><div>Also, sometimes farmers markets are cheaper than the grocery store. </div><div><br></div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 2:10 PM, Edward Fletcher <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:efletcher@skybest.com">efletcher@skybest.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
<div bgcolor="#ffffff">
<div><strong><em><font color="#008200" size="4" face="MS Mincho">Hello
Bob,</font></em></strong></div>
<div><strong><em><font size="4" face="MS Mincho"></font></em></strong> </div>
<div><strong><em><font size="4" face="MS Mincho">Point(s) well stated and
taken. "Native since when?" asks the most
logical question to me. Even the 'books' list 'aleins' but different
references to how they were determined to be aliens! </font></em></strong></div>
<div><strong><em><font size="4" face="MS Mincho">Per the purchasing power of the
public. Overall we are becoming to much of a "Wal-Mart Society" meaning always
looking for cheaper with quality taking more and more of a back seat. This does
push us to wards 'Made in China' products, sending them more of out money that
they can lend back to us and put us further in debt to them!!!
</font></em></strong></div>
<div><strong><em><font size="4" face="MS Mincho">If more people would buy based on
quality, if affordable, each link in the supply chain is duly rewarded and this
would support a healthier economy. </font></em></strong></div>
<div><strong><em><font size="4" face="MS Mincho">Back to point... invasives are a
big problem... but like drugs, the demand has been created and we are feeding it
by what we buy!</font></em></strong></div>
<div><strong><em><font size="4" face="MS Mincho">Always good to debate such
issues...see other viewpoints...if nothing else but for increased enlightenment!
</font></em></strong></div><strong><em><font color="#008200" size="4" face="MS Mincho">
<div><br>Genuinely,<br>Edward J. Fletcher<br></div></font></em></strong><font size="2" face="Tahoma"></font></div><div><div></div><div class="h5">
<div><font size="2" face="Tahoma">-----Original Message-----<br><b>From:</b> "Robert
Layton Beyfuss" <<a href="mailto:rlb14@cornell.edu" target="_blank">rlb14@cornell.edu</a>> <br><b>Sent:</b> 10/25/2010 1:50 PM
<br><b>To:</b> "Edward Fletcher" <<a href="mailto:efletcher@skybest.com" target="_blank">efletcher@skybest.com</a>> <br><b>Cc:</b>
"<a href="mailto:mpwg@lists.plantconservation.org" target="_blank">mpwg@lists.plantconservation.org</a>" <<a href="mailto:mpwg@lists.plantconservation.org" target="_blank">mpwg@lists.plantconservation.org</a>>
<br><b>Subject:</b> RE: [MPWG] White list & invasive plants issues...
<br><br></font></div>
<blockquote><br>
<div style="font-family:Tahoma;direction:ltr;color:#000000;font-size:13px">
<div>Hi Ed</div>
<div>There is really no good defintion of what a "native" plant is. Native to
where? Mexico or Texas? <br>Minnesota or Canada? Northern PA or southern PA?
CA or NY? The mountains of NC or the outer banks? This is a big country with
lots of different ecosystems that differ as radically from each other as Asian
ecosystems do from ours. Native since when? since the glaciers moved stuff
around? Since Native Americans moved plants around? since Europeans brought
plants with them here in the 1600's? Since temperatures warmed up a couple of
degres? should we be prohibited from growing exotic medicinal
plants? The whole native versus exotic argument is xenophobic
BS. There are plenty of exotic plants that don't need extra inputs to grow
here just fine. </div>
<div>Requiring people to purchase only native plants is like requiring us to
buy only American made goods? Most of our foods are exotic. Should we only eat
local "native" food? The average working class American cannot afford to
shop at the local farmers market. They have to shop at Wallmart with 85%
Chinese made goods. Makes no sense at all. Americans used to have
freedom to choose what they wanted, now Big Brother chooses for all of us.
</div>
<div>Bob</div>
<div> </div>
<div dir="ltr"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Tahoma"></font> </div>
<div style="direction:ltr">
<hr>
<font color="#000000" size="2" face="Tahoma"><b>From:</b>
<a href="mailto:mpwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org" target="_blank">mpwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org</a>
[<a href="mailto:mpwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org" target="_blank">mpwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org</a>] On Behalf Of Edward Fletcher
[<a href="mailto:efletcher@skybest.com" target="_blank">efletcher@skybest.com</a>]<br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, October 25, 2010 12:01
PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:mpwg@lists.plantconservation.org" target="_blank">mpwg@lists.plantconservation.org</a>;
<a href="mailto:michael.d.ward@aphis.usda.gov" target="_blank">michael.d.ward@aphis.usda.gov</a><br><b>Subject:</b> [MPWG] White list &
invasive plants issues...<br></font><br></div>
<div></div>
<div>
<div><strong><em><font color="#008200" size="4" face="MS Mincho">While I do
understand the 'invasive plants' concern, reiterated when I drive through the
South and see kudzu climbing over 100' pine trees and choking out acres of
plants, I know the horticultural/ornamental market is driving this demand. It
has always been the desire to have plants from 'exotic' places rather than
'native' plants in one's landscape. Then even if not invasive, there are
inherent problems that come along with this, i.e., extra water in dryer
climates, pest issues, diseases, etc. </font></em></strong></div>
<div><strong><em><font size="4" face="MS Mincho"></font></em></strong> </div>
<div><strong><em><font size="4" face="MS Mincho">So it seems to me a companion
list to this 'white list' is a 'native plant list' that is allowed. Many
counties and some states only allow or require indigenous plant species to be
planted. Bravo, Bravo!!! This makes the most sense to me, then we can still go
to the botanical gardens to see exotic plants perhaps.
</font></em></strong></div>
<div><strong><em><font size="4" face="MS Mincho"></font></em></strong> </div>
<div><strong><em><font size="4" face="MS Mincho">Notes to remember: We have
invasives that are native also. Many hybrids of native species are available
for diversity in the landscape. </font></em></strong></div><strong><em><font color="#008200" size="4" face="MS Mincho">
<div><br>Genuinely,<br>Edward J. Fletcher<br></div></font></em></strong><font size="2" face="Tahoma"></font></div>
<div><font size="2" face="Tahoma"></font> </div>
<div><font size="2" face="Tahoma">-----Original Message-----<br><b>From:</b>
"<a href="mailto:mpwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org" target="_blank">mpwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org</a>"
<<a href="mailto:mpwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org" target="_blank">mpwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org</a>> <br><b>Sent:</b> 10/24/2010
3:53 AM <br><b>To:</b> "<a href="mailto:mpwg@lists.plantconservation.org" target="_blank">mpwg@lists.plantconservation.org</a>"
<<a href="mailto:mpwg@lists.plantconservation.org" target="_blank">mpwg@lists.plantconservation.org</a>> <br><b>Subject:</b> [MPWG] Fwd:
<br><br></font></div>
<blockquote><br><br><span><span><b><span>"WHITE LIST" OF AUTHORIZED PLANTS (Canada and
U.S.)</span></b></span></span>
<p>The U.S. and Canadian governments are planning to introduce a
"white list" of plants that are allowed entry into each country under a
joint Canada-USA greenhouse certification program. The United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
(CFIA) are requesting comments from stakeholders on a proposal to replace
the current list of prohibited plants with this new list of allowed plants.
What this means is that if a plant is not on the allowed list it cannot
enter the U.S. from Canada or vice versa. Many thousands of plants including
many herbs will be barred entry under the proposal.</p>
<p>This change is highly significant for both countries because
it appears to be a first attempt to implement a controversal "white list"
approach to the control of cross-border plant movement. The proposed "white
list" is far more restrictive than the current "black list" of prohibited
plants that has been in place since the inception of the binational
Greenhouse Certification Program in 1996. The proposed "white list" of
allowed plants includes less than 1000 plant genera, out of over 12,600
genera of flowering plants known to man. The current "black list" of
prohibited plants has fewer than 100 genera.</p>
<p>Some suggest that the powerful anti-invasives movement in the
U.S. is behind the push to introduce "white lists" of plants that are
allowed into the country. While invasives are a problem for both countries,
the new list will affect thousands of plants already in the horticultural
trade, and will limit the introduction of new plants to gardeners.</p>
<p>For gardeners, it is worth reflecting a moment on how many new
plants that you have enjoyed growing over the past 10-20 years, and how many
of them might not have been available to you had this "white list" been in
place.</p>
<p>Gardeners, herbalists, commercial growers, and the gardening
and herbal media are encouraged to submit comments.</p>
<p><b><font color="#cc0033">The deadline for comments is October
31, 2010.</font></b></p>
<p><b>United States</b>: Email your comments to Michael D. Ward,
Senior Accreditation Projects Manager, USDA-APHIS-PPQ (<a href="mailto:michael.d.ward@aphis.usda.gov?Subject=GCP%20Comments" target="_blank">michael.d.ward@aphis.usda.gov)</a></p>
<p><b>Canada</b>: Email your comments to the CFIA (<a href="mailto:horticulture@inspection.gc.ca?Subject=comments" target="_blank">horticulture@inspection.gc.ca</a>)</p>
<p>The relevant documents, including the proposed lists of
authorized genera and families, are available <a href="http://www.richters.com/newdisplay.cgi?page=Issues/documents.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><pre cols="72">--
\_\ RICHTERS HERBS
/ / Goodwood, ON, L0C 1A0, Canada
\_\ Tel +1.905.640.6677 Fax +1.905.640.6641
/_/ <a href="http://www.richters.com" target="_blank">http://www.richters.com</a></pre>
<div></div></blockquote></div>
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