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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Patricia,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>These were our comments: </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial><A
href="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">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</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>IFCAE also submitted comments that helped shaped
the USDA's understanding of wild crops. I think AHPA submitted, great comments,
too.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Penny</DIV></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=Patricia_DeAngelis@fws.gov
href="mailto:Patricia_DeAngelis@fws.gov">Patricia_DeAngelis@fws.gov</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=mpwg@lists.plantconservation.org
href="mailto:mpwg@lists.plantconservation.org">mpwg@lists.plantconservation.org</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, May 09, 2011 11:14 AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [MPWG] new guidelines for
certified organic wild crops</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><BR><FONT size=2 face=sans-serif>Wow. These two excerpts are of
particular interest...</FONT> <BR><BR><FONT size=2 face=sans-serif>"Minimal
agricultural practices, such as <B>re-seeding from</B> and pruning of
<B>existing plants</B> 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." </FONT> <BR><BR><FONT size=2 face=sans-serif>"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."</FONT>
<BR><BR><FONT size=2 face=sans-serif>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.
</FONT> <BR><BR><FONT size=2 face=sans-serif>Penny, I suspect you
submitted comments! </FONT><BR><FONT size=2 face=sans-serif>-Patricia</FONT>
<BR><BR><FONT size=2 face=sans-serif>Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.<BR>Botanist
- Division of Scientific Authority<BR>Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance -
Medicinal Plant Working Group<BR>US Fish & Wildlife Service<BR>4401 N.
Fairfax Dr., Suite 110<BR>Arlington, VA 22203<BR>703-358-1708
x1753<BR>FAX: 703-358-2276<BR><BR>Promoting sustainable use and conservation
of our native medicinal
plants.<BR><www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal><BR></FONT><BR><BR><BR>
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<TD width="40%"><FONT size=1 face=sans-serif><B>"Penny's Pine Nuts"
<penny@pinenut.com></B> </FONT><BR><FONT size=1
face=sans-serif>Sent by: mpwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org</FONT>
<P><FONT size=1 face=sans-serif>05/06/2011 01:52 PM</FONT> </P>
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<DIV align=right><FONT size=1 face=sans-serif>To</FONT></DIV>
<TD><FONT size=1
face=sans-serif><mpwg@lists.plantconservation.org></FONT>
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<TD>
<DIV align=right><FONT size=1 face=sans-serif>cc</FONT></DIV>
<TD>
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<TD>
<DIV align=right><FONT size=1 face=sans-serif>Subject</FONT></DIV>
<TD><FONT size=1 face=sans-serif>[MPWG] new guidelines for
certified organic wild crops</FONT></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR>
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<TD>
<TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR><BR><BR><A
href="http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5090757"><FONT
color=blue size=2
face=Arial><U>http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5090757</U></FONT></A>
<BR><FONT size=3> </FONT> <BR><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Some very
progressive changes to the national organic program wild crops
certification.</FONT> <BR><FONT size=3> </FONT> <BR><FONT
size=3> </FONT> <BR><FONT size=3> </FONT> <BR><FONT
size=3> </FONT><TT><FONT
size=2><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>PCA's Medicinal
Plant Working Group mailing
list<BR>MPWG@lists.plantconservation.org<BR></FONT></TT><A
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<P></P><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>PCA's Medicinal
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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
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