Quote:
Originally Posted by 51st state
and you, exactly like me, are growing how many non-indigenous species? have we bought them all from certified sources?
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Hey, Kev...thanks for your thoughts. I wasn't knocking buying or shipping internationally. I was trying to advocate for doing it [i]legally[i], that's all. As a person who has been in the ornamental horticulture industry for close to 15 years now I am very aware of how our industry has benefitted (and occasionally suffered) from the many cultivars of plants that we now have readily available to us. I do buy the occasional banana from a nursery, but I mostly trade with people here or buy locally. Yes, who knows for sure where the nurseries get their stock from. I guess the reason why I said what I did was that I've seen it mentioned here before that one could send a banana, say to the UK labeled as a gift and it could possibly get through customs without the required phytosanitary papers and inspections for pests or disease that could potentially escape into it's new country.
We do have a great hobby, but as you mentioned, who knows which banana we may be growing that could hold the key to future insect or disease resistance in it's genes. Our hobby has the potential to be so much more. Let's all enjoy our hobby, be passionate about it, but be responsible as well! I think this kind of open discussion is great and that's part of the reason why I love this site so much. Happy growing, everyone!