There has been A LOT of posts about buying (importing) figs from other countries.  By now most people who read this forum are aware it is not legal to bring in plant material from other countries without proper licensing through proper gov't channels whatever they may be.  Since I am not going to pursue this for myself I have no idea nor care to know what to do and how to do it.

But, I think it would be nice to have some varieties from other countries if I could get them from a company who does this through legal channels.

So the question is - - -  Is there a company or person that does import figs LEGALLY? 

If there is, why not give them a plug so the members in the USA can acquire the desired cuttings or plants they desire, keeps a business in business or helps defray the cost of an individual.  It could be a win win for all concerned.

importing isn't as easy as just getting the permits. the plants you import require quarantine. i think it's like 2 yrs. and the other side has to meet their requirement also. so it's not as easy as it sounds. there was a thread regarding the requirement regarding importing. once you import the plant, it needs to be isolated from rest of your stock. and if there is any indication that the imported plants have infection, there is chance your whole stock will be taken away. 

so.. there is time investment, financial investment, and possibility of getting your whole stock being destroyed if something happens. i don't think lot of people are willing to risk it. unless you have facility big enough to keep everything isolated. 

i think few of the members do import cuttings and so on. i contacted baud once and he is willing to export from france, but the thing is he only do this in large lot as in something like 100 cuttings per variety. i heard mr. pon will also export to USA. so there are ways. 

Yes Pete,  I know about the hoops to jump through, and I didn't meant to imply that it is easy or simple.  There are many businesses out there who are importers - I don't know about figs, that's why I posted this thread.  Everyone talks about it being illegal to have it mailed to an individual, no one has mentioned if there is anyone out there who is LEGALLY importing. 

I think,,,,,

You can bring cuttings ( scion ) from Canada or even MAYBE from abroad provided you have a specific document. I just cannot think about it now and for the life of me I cannot remember what document it is.

Will need to search it here. It will take time. Or if someone might chime in.
This topic was mentioned once before and it was answered.

Good luck 

Rafed, you're thinking of the phytosanitary certificate, which is very, very expensive, hence Baud, Pons and others requiring a rather large order to make the cost of the quarantine and certificate worthwhile.

Patty,
I am aware of the phyto.
I am refering to a document for scion only. I think the phyto is for live, potted or barerooted or cuttings/scions as well.

been reading about this thing for awhile.. certain plants can enter US without any issue as long as the traveler has less than 12 item to declare and declare it correctly and honestly. however, Ficus carica is not one of them. fig requires import permit. if the custom refuse to let you pass, it will be collected and destroyed or returned to the country of origin. if you declare is falsely, you will be fined. first time, it's $1,000. next time i think something like $50,000.

basic idea if you want to bring it in while traveling. 

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/600/~/importing-plants-and-plant-products

fig import and countries that's currently indicated as allowed. but i'm sure this thing is not complete, and there are other countries that you can import them from. 

https://epermits.aphis.usda.gov/manual/index.cfm?action=commSummCountryP&COMMOD_ID=182&dspNavBar=1

so, if you are traveling and bringing about 12 cuttings or less into the country, put down 'fig' and indicate that it is plant material and hope the custom guy is not too bored to look deep into it :)

edit: i'm not an expert. i might be totally wrong. do not take my word for this. if you get caught not telling the truth to the custom, you will get burned for it. big time.

edit: i need to convince my wife that we really need to go visit portugal and spain. 

Pete,

One time I was coming back into the US from the NB, Canada to Madawaska, Me. port and the customs inspector asked me if I had any plant or food items to declare.

I gave him in detail that I had lunch meats in the fridge and two apples and two oranges.
He asked what kind of meats and I told him. He confiscated the oranges and had to fill out a form. Went into my truck looking for more contra bans.

Yes, your life would be much easier if you tell them the truth rather than them finding it.

BTW,
I asked why he took the oranges and not the apples? He said tell me where on the orange is says it was from the US? He said something about importing fruit from South Africa and so on so forth. Been a while so I don't remember what.

rafed, 

that reminds me of funny story. my wife, while we were dating, went to hawaii. on the way back to CONUS, so wanted to bring pineapple and some banana to snack on. while on the line at the airport, they had this custom guy and a dog strolling around.. then the dog started barking and started running toward my wife. my wife was freaking out since this german shepherd was about to jump all over her. then the custom guy finally catch up with the dog and asked my wife what she had in the purse. my wife said "snacks for my flight back to NC". he asked if she had any fruits. and she took out her pineapple slices and banana. the guy said the dog was train to sniff out the fruits. she had to dump her snacks. apparently the fruits were not allowed to travel back to the states due to possible things traveling with it. 

if it was me, i would have just ate it there. 

Happened to my wife and I at the Honolulu airport. Same thing with the customs and a big fat juicy tangy orange.
Pineapples were purchased at the airport with the sticker on the box along with Plumeria scion. No issues with those.

The easiest way is to contact your ag department, I think different states may have different requirements, but they should be able to tell you what you would need.  
If you're in Canada you can import from pretty much anywhere but depending on the country you will need to have a phytosanitary certificate from said country and it could be different requirement (France is potatoe wart in the soil) they must be less than 10 mm because of the fear of a certain beetle, etc etc but so far it has been more a money thing not a pain, but again that is for Canada.

You could contact Baud in France and he may already know what you will require, he refused to ship me anything until I sent him an import permit and agreed to pay for a phytosanitary, so far I am happy no signs so far of FMV on any of his trees.  

Again this is for Canada so it will vary from place to place.

I just wish it was easy so I can get some of those Bauds and Pons figs. Been wanting those for the longest.

Plumeria.. i wish i knew about them when my wife was visiting hawaii.. they smell so good. too late now. figs are taking up all the good spots. been trying to read up on carnivorous plants. they are rather interesting. 

You need a Federal USDA Post-entry Quarantine permit, a phytosanitary certificate to accompany every shipment (in most cases this is the killer), which goes to a USDA Port of Entry Inspection station (and you have to arrange to get them from there), an approved quarantine area, 2 years minimum in quarantine, and more like three years in realtiy. At the end of that time, if they are disease free, you get paperwork from the USDA releasing THEIR cutting grown trees to you (after you have rooted the cuttings and cared for the trees for 2+ years). They are inspected annually while in quarantine. And, yes a lot of this costs $$.

I have managed to do this once in 7 years, I am currently working on a second shipment.

But, hey, its fun trying.

Just curious where the quarantine areas are?

My personnel experiences,,,,,,

Around five or six years ago or maybe longer I made a fig order with Grimos out of Niagara in the Lakes, Ontario. I paid roughly $20 or so for the phyto cert. on top of the cost and shipping.

Order came to my house ( in Michigan ) with the cert. attached to the 4'x1'x1' box with no issues. I doubt a box of this size would slip through the cracks.

I really don't understand what this quarantine thing is coming about? Is this for plants materials coming from foreign countries? Last I checked, Canada was and still is a foreign country.

So can someone please enlighten me on this subject? Because I am completely lost.
Sorry for not being the brightest light in the bunch folks.

....................................................................................................................................................

FYI,

In Detroit we have two main produce markets for wholesalers and dealers. One is the Eastern Market where it is mostly an outdoor area where farmers from the area including Ontario, Ca. come to sell their produce to local venders, dealers or markets.

Some of the farmers/sellers are from the Ontario areas and travel through the tunnel or bridge Monday through Saturday. Hauling produce and plant material of many kinds to Detroit and back to Ontario without hardly ever being checked. They carry the proper documents of course.

Then we have the Detroit Produce Terminel. This place is a rather huge place. They get produce from different parts of the World. Yes, I said different parts of the World. Some flown and some by ship, probably crossed docked in Miami or LA or wherever.

Some hauled in by truck from Mexico.

This is just Detroit folks. Not mentioning the rest of the country and Canada.

I myself have hauled many many loads of watermelons from various locations throughout Florida and Georgia and went straight into Canada with them. With the proper documents, My loads were accepted at the ports of entries with my watermelons in bins or on the floor with hay used for cushion. Not once did they inspect a single melon! Not even one time!

Further more,
For those of you in Mi., Oh., In., or Il. or where ever. During the Spring time the majority of your flowers are being shipped from Canada. Yes, I'm talking about your trays and what not.

With the proper documents they are going right throught without hardly ever being inspected.

Therefore my dear friends, it all boils down to money propaganda. I can go on and on and on. During my travels I have hauled and seen being hauled many many commodities that make you want to scratch your head. Including plants and plant materials in and out of the US.

Again,
I don't have the smarts like many of you good folks out there, but I hope I put in my two cents.
You get the picture;)

Good luck to you all

The quarantine area can be at your house, but has to be separated from our plants of similar genus by a certain distance, which I don't remember anymore, but maybe 100'. For some plants (not figs) it would require a greenhouse or screenhouse.

See Post Entry Quarantine Manual

My quarantine area for pomegranates is 3 meters from any other pomegranates.  Seems pretty silly.  They must be kept in pots and not propagated during the quarantine.  I had no cost for the import permit and initial inspection.

I once tried to import other chestnuts but would not be granted a permit to me individually, they are a "prohibited" item.  I had some high contacts at UCD and they contacted Foundation Plant Material Services, a nursery industry entity that works on cleaning up species, etc. and they were able to get an import permit and Feds required 3 year quarantine but California required 5 year quarantine (both required in greenhouse due to concern with blight and oak wilt disease).  FMPS charged $1,000 per variety for the project.  The nursery board agreed to fund it and recoup at collection something like $.10 per tree sold.

Rafed, I think your Grimo import did "slip through the cracks".  They didn't necessarily not see the large box but they can't visually look at every box to see if it might contain plant material.  Transportation of food and flowers is an entirely different matter.  They know those aren't being planted and they only allow them to come from other states or countries where they are confident that pests (insects or diseases) are not being imported or they require treatment (i.e., chestnuts imported from other countries must be fumigated, some fruits are irradiated).

Info For Canadian Figgers -- Used to be straight forward to bring figs from Continental USA. Then, all was required was a phyto cert. and I brought in a bunch from Jon. There may be new requirements now. It was indeed very helpful I wrote to Canadian Food Inspection Agency(CFIA), Ottawa for information. They were most helpful, especially it is rare someone ever bring in live fig plants. Prior to getting information from OTTAWA, I was given all sorts of differing information by local CFIA and even border inspectors. The info from Ottawa helped to clear my shipment at the border crossing as the officers were unfamiliar with importation of fig plants. Once I produced the letter from Ottawa and based on email exchanges with the CFIA supervisor in Ottawa was sighted, it was a breeze in clearance.

Harvey,

I guess even when we think we're doing something right it's still wrong. LOL
Oh well.

Anyway, there were times before I join the forums I would loose my entire collections back to back years. I used to store the figs in the back yard shed and no matter how I packed and insulated them they would not make it through the winters.
Grimos figs were part of the loss.

I am thinking of taking a drive to the local USDA office and try to work something out with them.
I want to bring in some Bauds figs. If that's what it will take then I will do it. Couple hundred dollars here or there will not affect me. As long as they will allow me to have full possession, I will provide the quarantine needed and will comply fully.

I think it's a win win.

This is becoming a good learning tool.

Thanks