2 accused of illegally harvesting 801 pounds of saw palmetto berries

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Two people were arrested after deputies said they illegally harvested 801 pounds of saw palmetto berries in Hillsborough County.

A property owner along US 41 called the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office to report trespassers harvesting the berries on their property, according to deputies.

The sheriff’s office tracked Heladio Gonzalez-Hernandez, 39, and Maria Hernandez-Santiago, 42, to a home in Plant City after receiving a photo of their vehicle.

Gonzalez-Hernandez and Hernandez-Santiago were both charged with possession or exchange of unlawfully harvested saw palmetto berries and unlawful destruction or harvest of saw palmetto berries.

A permit is required to harvest and sell the berries after the Endangered Plant Advisory Council recommended the saw palmetto plant be added to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ “commercially exploited plant list.”

The berries are often used for medicinal purposes, and the berries are also an important food source for wildlife, according to the University of Florida Southwest Florida Research & Education Center .

“Sustainable harvesting practices are essential to ensure the long-term viability of saw palmetto populations,” according to the university’s website. “Overharvesting can deplete natural populations and disrupt the ecosystem.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.