NC taxes ramps

Charleston Daily Mail: Federal officials smell trouble with ramp over-harvesting

By The Associated Press
Tuesday May 03, 2005

RALEIGH, N.C. — Demand for ramps — a wild leek prized for its strong flavor — is expanding far from the mountains, propelled by a craze for regional and seasonal food. So great is the appeal that officials here are trying to limit the annual harvest.

Beginning next year, civic groups that pick wild ramps in the Nantahala National Forest for use in spring festivals will have to abide by new Forest Service rules that dictate where and how to pick the plants as well as levy a 50-cent-a-pound fee. The forest is in far southwestern North Carolina.

This isn't the first attempt to regulate the ramp. Thanks to Jim Comstock's stunt of putting the wonderful smell of ramps in the ink of The Hillbilly, it is illegal under U.S. Postal rules to mail anything that smells of ramps.