Sustainable Foraging Task Force narrows scope, asks DNR for briefing and plans Fort Snelling field trip

The Sustainable Foraging Task Force, created by 2025 legislation to advise the Legislature on foraging policy, met to review its charge, hear an LCC memo on current statutes and other states’ approaches, and agree next steps focused on information-gathering rather than immediate rule changes, Chair Senator Pa said.

Nick Nero, an LCC research analyst, summarized state law excerpts and linked materials staff had posted: Minnesota’s noxious-weed statutes and a patchwork of regulations govern activities such as wild rice harvesting (Nero noted a commonly cited season of Aug. 15 to Sept. 30), wild ginseng rules, and a foraging regulation that generally permits personal, noncommercial harvest of edible fruit and mushrooms while reserving permitting authority for commercial or large-scale collection. Nero also noted the influence of treaties, including the 1854 treaty, which protect Native harvesting rights in parts of northern Minnesota.

“Chapter 88 also contains definitions and provisions related to special forest products,” DNR forestry representative Matt Wopler said, explaining that the same special-products permit can be used for large-quantity or different-product collections, and that some decorative or plant-collection activities on state forests can be permitted under that authority.

Several members pressed the group to focus its work. “I think this committee comes down to two words: values and evidence,” David Schultz said, urging the task force to reconcile community values with empirical information before recommending changes. Members debated whether the task force should concentrate on personal, edible foraging (berries, mushrooms, typical foodstuffs) and leave decorative items and commercial extraction to separate review, or take a broader, comprehensive look at all collection activities.

A meeting participant voiced concern that the process could produce greater restrictions. “You can’t go in to the woods and pick a mushroom without getting a permit,” they said, urging caution about unintended permit requirements. Senator Pa responded that the task force was prompted by stakeholders worried about access and that the group’s mandate is to develop balanced recommendations for the Legislature, not to preordain more regulation.

Members endorsed a sequence of next steps: ask Minnesota DNR to prepare a targeted presentation summarizing the department’s current data and concerns (including park-ranger observations and any resource-monitoring that points to impacts); consider short surveys of land managers to identify sites and species with documented damage; invite foraging educators and representatives of both formal and informal foraging communities (and Indigenous educators) to present; and hold a field trip at Fort Snelling State Park to observe foraging contexts firsthand.

The task force also agreed to pilot a facilitator-led “fist-to-5” check to gauge member support for specific activities and priorities before launching staff work, a technique the facilitator and members said can surface concerns earlier in discussion. Staff will compile suggested questions from members, coordinate the DNR briefing, and circulate a proposed schedule for the field trip and listening sessions. The chair said staff will post resources and suggested additional readings to the task force website and follow up on appointment vacancies for a few outstanding seats.

At the meeting’s start the task force approved the minutes from its prior meeting on a roll-call motion by David Schultz, seconded by Peter (Minnesota Mycological Society); the chair recorded 11 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 abstentions.

Next steps: DNR will be asked to present the department’s compiled data at a future meeting; staff will draft short land-manager survey questions for member feedback; and the task force will schedule presentations by educators and a Fort Snelling visit to inform future recommendations to the Legislature.