Responsible foraging on state lands subject of potential task force

Serious gourmands seek out a “farm to table” designation to secure fresh, minimally processed and tasty food for their plates.

But there’s also a growing “forest to table” movement, where food is foraged in forests or on other public lands. Think mushrooms and wild rice, but also fiddlesticks, wild mint and ginseng.

However, the growing popularity of foraging means there’s a danger of overharvesting and damaging ecosystems.

That’s the impetus for a bill that would create a task force to study the issue and advise the Department of Natural Resources on how best to develop foraging regulations that “balance the need for ecological sustainability with the right of Minnesotans to enjoy the state’s bountiful natural resources.”

Rep. Isaac Schultz (R-Elmdale Township) sponsors HF819, which he said came about when constituents learned in 2023 the DNR was considering severely limiting foraging in state parks without input from foragers.

“I’m authoring this legislation to help build that task force to ensure that we have a transparent process that will be based on data and science and is used to develop the new regulations in regard to foraging,” he said.

The House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee amended the bill Thursday and laid it over for possible omnibus bill inclusion.

The bill would require the DNR to establish a Minnesota Sustainable Foraging Task Force by Sept. 1, 2025. Its duties would include gathering and reviewing data and existing regulations and developing recommendations, educational materials, and a permitting model.

Testifiers expressed support and gratitude they would have input into the task force and the DNR’s rulemaking process.

“Collaborative rulemaking helps foster public trust and cooperation, encourages sustainable practices, and aligns with the Minnesota DNR’s stated mission of fostering a connection between people and nature,” said Tim Clemons, owner and founder of Ironwood Foraging.

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“This legislation is needed because it seems Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources feels that the tradition of foraging isn’t an acceptable use of state lands,” said Alan Bergo, a James Beard Award winner known as the “Forager Chef.”

“You shouldn’t have to be a land baron in order to experience the bounty that our state land provides.”

DNR Assistant Commissioner Bob Meier pushed back at the suggestion the agency is against foraging. “We support foraging in all of our state lands.”

But the agency is concerned because of reports from field staff who have seen 80-100 people at a time come to a single state park to gather food.

That level of harvesting can have a “significant impact” on the food supply of other animals, Meier said.