(We Chinese in America Media Editor Tang Zhao, March 24, 2022) Following a decade of petitions by the late Yuan Ai Recreation Center chairman Alfred Yin and City Farmer's Market Vietnamese director Ben Vo, the Georgia Department of Agriculture announced last week that starting today, with a permit, Water spinach (aka Ipomoea wateraca) could be legally sold in Georgia. (Photo from website)

The Department of Agriculture pointed out that water spinach is commonly eaten in many parts of the world, especially in Asia. But because water spinach is highly invasive, it is regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and many states. However, in California, Florida, Hawaii, and Texas, it is legal to sell or grow it as long as you have a license.

Wooiyi Yin, the widow of Yin Maoda and the current chairman of Yuanai Recreation Center, said that water spinach is the favorite vegetable of many Asians, but because the plant can easily grow everywhere in water, it has been banned by Georgia regulations for many years. (Photo from website)

Although the law does not allow planting and selling, in fact, private planting or trading has existed for many years. Not only does the government lose sales tax revenue because of this, but private trading is not regulated, and people’s rights and food safety are also exposed to great risks.

In 2012, Yin Maoda and Ben Vo collected about 500 signatures and filed a petition with state senator Pete Marin, hoping to amend the law to allow water spinach to be sold and grown legally. After years of hard work and the efforts of many Asian-American parliamentarians and groups, the sale of water spinach has finally been made legal.

(Raw Water Spinach-Photo from website)

Georgia Department of Agriculture Secretary Gary W. Black said the department approved water spinach for sale in Georgia after reviewing the Department of Agriculture and Texas' pest risk analysis and sharing communications with other states. He encouraged shops and restaurants to buy water spinach from vendors with a PPQ-526 license from the Department of Agriculture.

(Stir Fried Water Spinach with Fermented Tofu Photo from The Woks of Life)

To date, the USDA has approved three permits to sell water spinach in Georgia, and more are expected to be issued.

Marvin Lim, a Filipino Georgia State Assemblyman who helped push the case, said his district, Gwinnett, has the highest percentage of Asians in Georgia, especially Southeast Asians. The legalization of the water spinach sale demonstrates the importance of Georgia’s provision of food that is relevant to Asian multiculturalism and benefits the Asian community.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website, because hydroponic water spinach grows so quickly and creates highly entangled vegetation that obstructs drainage and water flow, it may replace the Native plants important to fish and aquatic animals and plants. According to Florida law, water spinach can only be cultivated under the supervision of the state's Department of Agriculture and Consumer.

Chen Huiyi said that under the supervision of laws and regulations, the soil cultivation method should be able to solve the problem of water spinach invading waters. Currently, water spinach is not allowed in Georgia. However, officials at the Department of Agriculture say regulations are being developed to legally grow water spinach, which is expected to be announced later this year.

(Source: Compiled from Online Information)

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