St. Johns County deputies arrested two men within seven days on felony charges related to harvesting saw palmetto berries without required permits or landowner permission.

The latest arrest occurred Oct. 2 along U.S. 1 near Abbott Way, where a deputy found a 37-year-old man collecting berries with gardening tools and several plastic bins, according to an arrest report cited by the St. Johns Citizen.

One bin contained at least 25 pounds of berries. The man told the deputy he planned to sell them for $1 per pound.

He also acknowledged that he had previously been warned and trespassed for harvesting berries and did not have permission from the property owner, according to the report.

Although he carried a permit application, it was incomplete and had not been submitted.

The deputy collected his harvesting tools and application as evidence before transporting him to the St. Johns County jail on a third-degree felony charge.

Second arrest follows earlier harvesting complaint

The Oct. 2 arrest came one week after deputies encountered a 48-year-old man allegedly collecting saw palmetto berries in woods near a private residence on Scheidel Way.

Deputies responded shortly before 8 p.m. Sept. 25 to a report of suspicious activity and found the man using large gardening clippers, according to a separate arrest report cited by the St. Johns Citizen.

More than 20 berry stalks were found in a trash can. The man could not produce a valid harvesting permit and was arrested.

Florida law requires permits and landowner permission

Saw palmetto berries are used in herbal supplements marketed for prostate and urinary health. They also serve as a food source for native wildlife.

Florida began requiring permits for commercial harvesting in July 2018 after the state classified saw palmetto as a commercially exploited plant.

Under rules administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, harvesters must obtain a state permit and written permission from the property owner before collecting berries for sale.

A 2024 state law strengthened enforcement by establishing felony penalties for certain unauthorized harvesting activities.

The two St. Johns County arrests follow similar cases elsewhere in Florida.

Three men were arrested Sept. 24 in Indian River County after allegedly collecting approximately 350 pounds of berries along Interstate 95. Four people were arrested in Brevard County in late August in connection with harvesting on private property.

Sheriff's offices in Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin counties reported a combined 82 arrests related to illegal palmetto berry harvesting in 2024, according to TC Palm.

Court dates for the two St. Johns County defendants were not available in the cited reports.