Bringing Fruits and Others into United States

[*HappyInlove* 6]

There is a similar mango from the Philippines that you can buy at the asian stores here. It is ripe and very sweet. Sometimes they also got that very sour small mangoes. In big asian markets, you can find Philippine fruits. My husband surprised me with a whole jackfruit/langka that was ripe and it's really the same one we got there. They also have guavas, papayas and durian. There's even starfruit/balimbing in some grocery stores. The Philippines fruits I missed that's not available here are lanzones and guyabano:(

[Not a Tailor 1,370]

There is a similar mango from the Philippines that you can buy at the asian stores here. It is ripe and very sweet. Sometimes they also got that very sour small mangoes. In big asian markets, you can find Philippine fruits. My husband surprised me with a whole jackfruit/langka that was ripe and it's really the same one we got there. They also have guavas, papayas and durian. There's even starfruit/balimbing in some grocery stores. The Philippines fruits I missed that's not available here are lanzones and guyabano:(

I can get guyabano in Canada under the name 'soursop' (I'm not from Philippines, but I've had coworkers who were who shared with me). Apparently it grows well in Mexico so maybe try a Mexican grocer? I don't know where in the US you are, but I can't imagine that it's unavailable in US as a universal thing if we can get it in Canada.

[KandR 9]

Reminds me of when I flew in once behind a plane from I guess Chile or Peru, average height seems to be 4' 6" anyway.

Customs were having a field day, extra sniffer dogs brought in.

When I was waiting at FLL for my bags from my last visit to Peru, a 50 pound bag of rice dropped onto the carousel. My reaction was "really?"

R

[Thane 8]

It's a bit hard, but you can definitely find the same mangos here in the states. You aren't going to find them in a big chain store, well, maybe Whole Foods is an exception in some places, but you can find them in some of the smaller Asian grocery stores.

[novedsac 355]

It's a bit hard, but you can definitely find the same mangos here in the states. You aren't going to find them in a big chain store, well, maybe Whole Foods is an exception in some places, but you can find them in some of the smaller Asian grocery stores.

Problem is, in order to ship them here they need to be harvested before they're properly ripened. Just not the same.

It's like buying strawberries out of season in New England - sure, they're strawberries, but not as good as the ones you'll be picking from your own patch in the spring when you can eat them as they ripened properly on the vine.

[novedsac 355]

I think CBP handles that, not USCIS. OP, I brought a lot of ground coffee in the US, no problem as long as it's not for commercial purposes. I even had them mailed from Malaysia to the US and still never encountered any problems.

It's not CBP either, but APHIS handling the fruit/vegetable inspection thing.

Come to think of it now, I travel internationally with a Vietnamese colleague about three times a year. EVERY single time we return home, mainly from Europe, she's diverted for an APHIS inspection of her bags. I never have been. She says it's because many Vietnamese bring plant/animal products back that they shouldn't. Profiling? It's a minor irritation.

[SennaBrigante 92]

I feel your pain. I don't know what I'm gonna do without my mangoes and sili

[meandterry 3]

Thank you so much to all, I really appreciated, Now I knew I dont need to bring fruits.

Just want to let everybody know, GUIMARAS ISLAND is the only the best MANGO in Philippines.

God bless to everyone......

[meandterry 3]

Thank you so much to all, I really appreciated, Now I knew I dont need to bring fruits.

Just want to let everybody know, GUIMARAS ISLAND is the only the best MANGO in Philippines.

God bless to everyone......

[meandterry 3]

Thanks to all overwhelming replies, yep now I knew don't bring fruits, I got roasted 15kilos coffee and hoping there's no issue, my husband love that Philippine native coffee....

Thank you much everybody it helps me a lot.

God Bless you all.

[sweet cakes 326]

Thanks to all overwhelming replies, yep now I knew don't bring fruits, I got roasted 15kilos coffee and hoping there's no issue, my husband love that Philippine native coffee....

Thank you much everybody it helps me a lot.

God Bless you all.

15kg for coffee is also a lot. You are only allowed max of 23kg for one piece of luggage. and for most airlines, PAL for example, they charge US$150 (which is ~PhP 7k) for every excess luggage. Personally, but I don't think it's worth it, sis. Starbucks coffee beans here would cost about the same. I know the taste is different and all, but I won't lug around a luggage-full of something half-way across the globe which anybody could get here. Hope you can reconsider that, and I'm sure your fiance would understand that it would be much better if you bring personal stuff that you would have a harder time getting in US over a bag of coffee beans. But then again, to each his own.

Have a safe flight soon!

Edit: Not sure which state you're gonna be, but if it's Hawaii, a lot of Philippines fruits and similar products are also available there. It's like not leaving Philippines at all with the similarity of agricultural products.

Edited May 1, 2014 by sweet cakes