VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A Volusia County woman was arrested after being accused of harvesting saw palmetto berries without a required permit, an offense classified as a felony under Florida law.
Unpermitted harvesting of saw palmetto berries is illegal in Florida because the crop is an important ingredient in medications, most commonly used to treat prostate conditions.
Due to pharmaceutical demand, the berries can be resold for a significant profit, driving unauthorized picking across private lands.
Melissa Guarino was charged with destroying or harvesting the berries. She was taken into custody on Sunday and has since bonded out of jail.
Guarino’s arrest occurred about a week after law enforcement in Brevard County caught four people stealing saw palmetto berries on private property.
Brevard County deputies found the group with roughly 200 pounds of berries in a car, leading to charges of harvesting palmetto berries without permission.
While picking wild berries may seem harmless, individuals in Florida can legally harvest saw palmetto berries only after obtaining a required permit and securing permission from the landowner.
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