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Wild edibles are important culturally, nutritionally and economically in Ontario. Aboriginal peoples have a long history of living off the land through the harvest of wild foods, providing communities with inexpensive and nutritious food year-round. Likewise, many other cultures have traditions of harvesting edible wild plants. With the recent resurgence of interest in local foods, more people are recognizing the wide range of edible and medicinal applications for local wild foods. Edible wild plants, when harvested and handled properly, can support a range of uses.
The purpose of this guide is to provide recreational foragers and small-scale commercial producers with an understanding of proper harvesting, handling and packaging methods for edible wild plants.
Ontario Nature is a charity that has been protecting wild species and wild spaces through education, conservation and public engagement since 1931. We are there when nature needs us most.
Hi,
I have a question about harvesting a wild plant in Ontario for commercial purpose.
Do I need a license to harvest Sumac from public (Crown land)? If yes, how do I get it? Whom I need to contact to get such license? By the way, Sumac is not endangered species or threatened species.
Please guide me.
Thanks,
Salam.
Hello Salam,
Harvesting sumac wood or fruit on Crown Land could be for personal use, not commercial use, with some restrictions. This link, https://www.ontario.ca/page/using-wood-crown-land-personal-use#section-4, has the information on where to apply, this link also provides further details: https://www.ontario.ca/page/using-trees-crown-forests-commercial-purposes#:~:text=The%20law,from%20an%20existing%20licensed%20harvester, but you apply for a sustainable forest license or forest resource license for wood required through NHIC portal here: https://nrip.mnr.gov.on.ca/s/?language=en_US .
We would suggest following best practices in that ON guide in this blog: https://ontarionature.org/harvesting-and-processing-edible-wild-plants/ , Harvesting and Processing Edible Wild Plants ; this guide with helpful and important general information is also available here: https://onnaturemagazine.com/edible-wild-plants-guide.html .
Licenses may be needed for food processing/selling depending what the use is, and please consult with local Indigenous communities about treaty rights, agreements and/or boundaries before harvesting on traditional territory. Information on traditional territories can be found here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-first-nations-map.
ON Noah,
Communications Technician
For interest only, I don’t plan to harvest any plants.