From Faraway Fields To U.S. Forks

Are you interested in exporting fruits or vegetables to the United States? Are you unsure which commodities can be shipped to U.S. ports? Let us help: your first step is to learn about the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or APHIS, the agency charged with protecting the health and value of American agriculture and natural resources. One of its major responsibilities is to regulate agricultural imports into the United States.

According to the APHIS website, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires a written permit to import fresh and/or frozen fruits and vegetables for consumption from foreign sources into the United States. It can take up to 30 days for such a permit to be processed.

This article contains a list of select commodities already approved for import into the United States. It is important to note this is not a comprehensive list of either countries or commodities; additionally, some approved fruits or vegetables may have special requirements, including port restrictions. An updated and complete list of approved commodities and any restrictions can be accessed on the APHIS site, using the Fruit and Vegetables Import Requirements (FAVIR) database.

To obtain access to U.S. markets for a fruit or vegetable that is not already approved, the national plant protection organization of the country from which the commodity would be exported must submit a request to APHIS, following the requirements posted on the APHIS website. Upon receipt of a completed request, APHIS conducts a pest risk analysis and environmental review to determine potential pests likely to remain on the commodity upon importation. If APHIS determines the commodity can be safely imported into the United States, the agency will initiate the regulatory administrative process to seek public comment. For more information about APHIS and the commodity import process, visit www.aphis.usda.gov.

SELECT COMMODITIES APPROVED FOR IMPORT INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM ALL COUNTRIES
Aloe 
Bat nut or devil pod 
Cannonball Fruit 
Chinese Water Chestnut
Corn smut galls 
Cyperus corm 
Edible flowers 
Garlic
GingerLily 
Maguey 
Matsutake 
Singhara
Mushroom 
Palm Heart 
Pomegranate

Argentina – Apple, Apricot, Artichoke, Asparagus, Banana, Blueberry, Cassava, Cherry, Durian, Endive, Grape, Kiwi, Nectarine, Pea, Peach, Pear, Pineapple, Plum, Quince, Strawberry, Yam