We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dr. Catie Morse. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dr. Catie below.

Dr. Catie, appreciate you joining us today. Over the course of your career, have you seen or experienced your field completely flip-flop or change course on something?

At EcoFarm’s 45th Conference, I attended a panel discussion that really struck a chord. Leaders in the herbal industry were beginning to openly explore what it would look like to source and process herbs domestically—right here in the U.S. It reminded me of the early 2000s, when organic produce was still a tough sell—more expensive, less understood, but driven by a clear purpose rooted in quality and sustainability.

I believe the herbal supplement industry is now at a similar turning point. The market is still dominated by imported, powdered ingredients with limited transparency (ingredients for supplements are likely over 90% imported), but there’s a growing need for something different. We’re on the cusp of a return to regional, relationship-based herbalism—where growers, makers, and consumers are connected through shared values and seasonal cycles.

This is traditional herbalism re-emerging: knowing your farmer, harvesting at peak potency, and honoring the full life of the plant. Fresh, whole herbs, lovingly prepared, offer not just potency—but a deeper integrity. No lab test can replicate what’s gained through hands-on care and connection to place. The result? Remedies that nourish people and regenerate ecosystems at the same time.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Dr. Catie Morse, also known as Dr. Appleseed. I discovered my love for identifying native and medicinal plants over 25 years ago, and that early curiosity eventually blossomed into a deep and multidimensional career—one that spans naturopathic medicine, regenerative agriculture, and herbal product formulation.

Today, I run Dr. Appleseed’s, a California-based company making science-backed, nature-honoring elderberry remedies for the modern family. I also founded a nonprofit, Native Habitat, which restores local ecosystems through seed banking, education, and habitat regeneration. Everything I do is rooted in a deep reverence for the land and the belief that vibrant ecosystems are essential to human and planetary health.

Our elderberry products are hand-bottled using fresh, cold-processed, USDA organic berries grown in the U.S. What sets us apart is our commitment to local sourcing, transparency, and minimal processing—no refined sugars, no fillers, and no outsourcing overseas. Our aim is simple but powerful: support immunity while supporting biodiversity, small farms, and soil health. Reciprocity and abundance is the model we strive for, a mutual give and take with nature.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

COVID was a defining test of resilience. During those years, I had to move my production facility almost every year—navigating management changes, supply chain chaos, and the closures of other businesses I was working alongside. It was disorienting and draining. But I kept showing up. I’d pause just long enough to realign with my purpose, and then I’d take the next right step.

For me, resilience has never been about having all the answers. It’s been about staying close to what I love: the work, the plants, and the people we serve. That love—especially for elderberry—has carried me through. Elderberry is more than a remedy; it’s a teacher and a symbol of reciprocity. It gives to the soil, pollinators, birds, and people alike. It reminds me that healing is mutual—and that’s what motivates me to keep going.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Passion and purpose. I think they’re more important than any spreadsheet or business plan. I read early on in my journey that knowing your “why” will carry you through the hardest times, and I’ve found that to be profoundly true.

For me, it’s the love of the craft, of the ecosystem, and of the mission. Elderberry is the giving tree—offering fruit to bears, shelter to birds, food to pollinators, and health to humans. My goal is to create demand for U.S.-grown elderberries so that regenerative perennial agriculture can flourish and more of these keystone plants can thrive across our landscapes.

That love turns into action—like harvesting wild native seeds for living seed banks or sourcing directly from farmers. I believe the more we honor the interconnectedness of life, the more naturally success will follow.

Elderberry is my muse. It’s bee-pollinated and wildlife-supporting—feeding over 40 species of birds and mammals. It’s also soil-building, resilient, and uniquely abundant in North America. And yes, it’s on the FDA GRAS list, making it a safe, time-honored remedy for the whole family.

At Dr. Appleseed’s, we’re proud to work with USDA-certified organic U.S. growers and to hand-process our elderberries into clean, shelf-stable products using natural preservation methods. With every bottle, we’re supporting biodiversity, ethical agriculture, and vibrant family health.

We like to say:
“4,000-year-old elderberry remedies, doctor-formulated for the modern family.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://drappleseed.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drappleseeds_elderberry/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElderberryExtract/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-catie-morse-08109731b/

Image Credits

images one through four https://www.mandeerae.com/
images five through nine design https://www.mangold.design/ and photography https://www.nazarovphoto.com/

@mandeerae
@mangold.design
@nazarovphoto