As a representative of Meadows Farms Nurseries, a family owned and operated business based in Virginia since 1960, I am writing to express my concerns regarding the proposed Guidance Document for Invasive Plant Species Signage Requirements. We understand protecting our natural environment is important, however, the current proposal for mandatory, prominent signage right at the display benches could cause unnecessary panic and significantly reduce retail and landscape installation sales on plants that do not pose a significant risk to our native landscape.

A major concern is that this guidance treats all cultivars the same. There are many sterile or highly infertile cultivars on the market today that do not pose an ecological threat. Forcing a retail nursery to label a safe, sterile cultivar with the same harsh "invasive" warning as the wild species is misleading to the consumer. VDACS needs to establish a clear, science-based exemption process for sterile cultivars before forcing these signage rules into Virginia-based garden centers and landscapers

THANK YOU

Ron Meadows

Vice President

Meadows Farms