Canadian Border crossing, Food question

[Yooper33]

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

I haven't seen any Canadians lying dead in the streets with fruit in their hands.
Gene

I have been lurking for weeks gathering information to support a decision to buy. Just read the above and felt compelled to suffer through the registration process to say that comment had me laughing til I nearly cried. Oh, the picture it paints...

[mistermike]

I had occasion to take a day trip to Canada five days after 9-11. While in Montreal I purchased some groceries including some onions and grapes (both produce of the USA). When I arrived at the US border crossing point it was like an armed fortress. The VT National Guard was there. The Customs lady in the booth looked like a barrel with a head on it - it was the oversize bulletproof vest she was wearing that made her appear so clown-like, but no one was laughing.

When she asked me if I purchased or acquired any goods I mentioned my groceries and the onions and grapes were what set her off. She ordered me to go over to a waiting area to see the agricultural inspector. While I was waiting I observed three Sikhs, hands on their turbans, being marched into the office. Eventually the ag inspector came over to my car and I showed him the offending onions and grapes. He told me that produce of the USA is allowed and I could be on my way.

Agricultural inspection is necessary to prevent insects and other such pests from entering the country but is there anything that makes US-grown grapes and onions immune to themwhen they are exported to another country?

[TRfour]

Just keep an eye out for the WOOFS!

Been there, done that...
With Love

[webspinner]

Originally Posted by mistermike

Agricultural inspection is necessary to prevent insects and other such pests from entering the country but is there anything that makes US-grown grapes and onions immune to themwhen they are exported to another country?

Pests generally require more than just the fruit. They may live in the soil or on other parts of the plant. If fruit doesn't pick up eggs or pests prior to harvest, it is unlikely to come into contact with the pests after harvest.

[safari57]

We find it quite interesting when crossing the border to see all the bugs in the air and on the ground turning back because they know that they cannot legally cross They don't have fingers to be fingerprinted so they are not eligible for a Passport. Poor little buggers (uh, pardon the pun)