[Mark in the Old South]

Re: "but if someone had been paying more attention to imported plant material we wouldn't have blackened, dying madrones or sudden oak death. America would still have chestnuts and elms"

But no wheat, oats, barley, hops, apples, oranges, pears, almonds, English walnuts, etc etc etc.

The problem is you just never know one way or the other.

[Carry_Okie]

The problem is you just never know one way or the other.

That used to be a problem, but sterile micropropagation has vastly reduced the risk of transferring pathogens. There is no excuse. It's now all about who makes money and who pays for the consequences.