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View Full Version : How to Ship Bananas to U.S.


hydroid
06-01-2012, 04:44 PM
Just curious if anyone knows if it's possible to ship a banana plant from Marshall Islands to the states, and if so, how would I go about it? It may be more trouble than it's worth.

Bo

sunfish
06-01-2012, 05:31 PM
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/plant_health/2011/fs_imp_food_ppq.pdf

john_ny
06-01-2012, 08:05 PM
I got my first bananas, about 40 years ago. They were Gros Michel, from Saint Lucia. I had a plant importers permit from USDA.. (You can get one free.) I had the corms, with thousands of other plant cuttings, and contacted the Ministry of Agriculture, to get a Phytosanitary Certificate. They told me to take them to the local university, and an Ag man dipped them in a Sevin solution, and gave me the certificate. The cost, at the time was $5.00US (for the Sevin) You have to land at a place where they have a USDA Quarantine Station (We landed at JFK, where they have a station), or arrange for a bonded carrier to transport them to the QS. They, then call you. in a day or two, and tell you you can pick them up. An alternative, if you mail them, you can get special labels that direct the shipment to the QS and, when the inspection is complete, they will forward the material to you. (the permit holder)