USDA letter arrived

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SCfigFanatic

Registered:1396099670
Posts: 143

Posted 1399392588	Reply with quote #1

If you buy from over seas, they will find you. I received a letter in the mail with contact information and was asked to call. We talked about ebay rules, sellers, and buyer information. I asked if malathion was a preventative against these borers and he said yes. The man I talked to was very nice as he informed me my cuttings from china and fig seeds from turkey were to be confiscated. I informed him that when I realized I had done wrong I pulled up my wuhan's and burnt them in a fire. The guilt of knowing I accidentally broke the law made me not want them anyway. The seeds I had to send to him at USDA. Don't buy from over seas folks. Spreading the bad borers is the worst part. Doug

FiggieFive_0

Registered:1392277468
Posts: 259

Posted 1399394649	Reply with quote #2

Aloha, Doug. I hope everything else turns out alright. If you need some replacement cuttings, I still have a couple I can send out your way. Nate __________________ Nate Faith, Family, Friends, and Figs (not necessarily in that order).

SCfigFanatic

Registered:1396099670
Posts: 143

Posted 1399396419	Reply with quote #3

Nate, well I would love to trade cuttings but all my figs were killed to the ground and are growing all over again. Please let's talk this fall. Thanks so much for offering. Your a credit to the people here. Happy figgin Doug

jenn42

Registered:1389575153
Posts: 256

Posted 1399403650	Reply with quote #4

I felt the same way a couple of months ago when I got a call from them. I totally did not know it was illegal to purchase from out of the country! Last year I had bought some cuttings from Canada. Thank God I was a newbie! I managed to kill everything last year, so I got lucky. But I felt really really bad about it. So FYI, you can't buy from Canada either. __________________ Jenn Austin, TX Zone 8b Wish List: CDD, Bryant-Dark Unknown, Red Lebanese, ORoarke, Calvert Will hopefully have cuttings to trade next year as my yearlings mature

HarveyC

Registered:1212433117
Posts: 3,294

Posted 1399404134	Reply with quote #5

You an buy from Canada if you have an import permit and the requirements are met. The last I looked, no quarantine was required for fig material imported from Canada. __________________ Harvey - Correia Farms Isleton, CA (Sacramento County) USDA zone 9b, Sunset zone 14 http://www.figaholics.com https://www.facebook.com/Figaholics

GRamaley

Registered:1357742252
Posts: 791

Posted 1400672154	Reply with quote #6

I bought seeds from China a few years ago, garden seeds, and then fig seeds from Turkey, got as letter from the USFDA about the seeds, they were very nice and I mention the seeds from China, they will be picking up the two little trees I managed to grow and my unused garden seeds from China...I was surprised at how nice they are. I really didn't think seeds were a carrier fro anything... __________________ Gloria --------------- 7a, maybe 8

SCfigFanatic

Registered:1396099670
Posts: 143

Posted 1400679791	Reply with quote #7

I guess it's dumb to think that just because ebay lets people sell it, that it is ok to buy it. $20 cutting poof ashes. Live and learn kinda makes life interesting. Doug

Joe_Athens1945

Registered:1396815560
Posts: 365

Posted 1400685379	Reply with quote #8

Quote: Originally Posted by GRamaley I bought seeds from China a few years ago, garden seeds, and then fig seeds from Turkey, got as letter from the USFDA about the seeds, they were very nice and I mention the seeds from China, they will be picking up the two little trees I managed to grow and my unused garden seeds from China...I was surprised at how nice they are. I really didn't think seeds were a carrier fro anything... Well, in the long run, it is a good thing the FDA people are on the ball. A lot of bad things can be imported unknowingly. I work in Puerto Rico and points south of there and every time my bags go through the USFDA screening machine, I am reminded about just how many plant diseases/insects can come into the USA and trouble us were it not for the Ag people. __________________ Athens, GA USA Zone 7b My young trees in the ground and in pots: Brown Turkey, White Triana JM, Magnolia, Strawberry Verte, Violette de Bordeaux, Panache, UK Brooklyn Dark JP, Ronde de Bordeaux. Wish list: St Rita

svanessa

Registered:1189292564
Posts: 905

Posted 1400711541	Reply with quote #9

My only issue is that if the seeds or cuttings have been in the US for a year already wouldn't the suspected damage be done already: introduction of pathogens, bugs, fungus, invasive species, etc? Why collect the plants and seeds a year later? What are they accomplishing except to make a point and put you on their 'list'. I'm not disagreeing with them confiscating the plant material, just the timing of confiscation. It seems it would be too late to irradicate anything by then. __________________ Sue Zone 9B, 1946' Ramona, CA San Diego County

MGorski

Registered:1399823521
Posts: 370

Posted 1400713254	Reply with quote #10

Closing the barn door after the horses got out...I'm surprised they were not confiscated coming in to the country. I guess eBay is working with the USDA providing names. __________________ Zone-7, previously Mescalito

DesertDance

Registered:1247674606
Posts: 4,518

Posted 1400715309	Reply with quote #11

If you were an immigrant, hiding cuttings in your shoes, got through. Made a life! Family. Fig tree from the old country. All is good, and we all want cuttings. Sometimes it gets messed up! And yes, the borers are bad. Citrus industry is smacked with greening spread by some Asian Psyllid. I can't keep track, but best to trade within the USA. Trust me! California, Florida will soon put restrictions on. I'm just going to be happy with what I have, and I am!! Suzi __________________ Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!" Wish List: I wish all of you happy fig collecting! My wishes have been fulfilled!

AmandaLovesFigs

Registered:1397955636
Posts: 16

Posted 1400725264	Reply with quote #12

Aw, that is sad, but I understand why they do it. How long ago did you purchase the foreign cuttings and seeds? I'm just wondering when I should expect my letter. __________________ USA zone 8A: 4 fig trees! Celeste, BT, Magnolia, and Ischia (not sure if white or green) wish list: got all I need for now I think, fingers crossed the cuttings given to me take root for me! Panachee, St Jean de Grise and BlackJack!

indestructible87

Registered:1368407095
Posts: 548

Posted 1400729182	Reply with quote #13

I kinda wish I worked for the usda, ive contemplated getting cuttings from overseas just to have them show up and see if I could get a job. Then I decided thats probably not the best way to go about it. I do find a lot of this sort of stuff very interesting. Like a soil inspector or something. Does anyone got any connections? __________________ Travis Pittsburgh, PA

TheFigster

Registered:1383434380
Posts: 197

Posted 1401220165	Reply with quote #14

Quote: Originally Posted by HarveyC You an buy from Canada if you have an import permit and the requirements are met. The last I looked, no quarantine was required for fig material imported from Canada. HarveyC Where can i get a list of all places that we can and cannot buy from? Do you have such a list yourself? I Don't want to break the law and so far I haven't purchased anything from overseas or even Canada .. even though some look really good on ebay, I know the law is the law and want to be in strict compliance! PLEASE ADVISE THANKS THEFIGSTER __________________ WISH LIST:I'M IN ZONE 8A BY FORT WORTH, TX I prefer very sweet figs and two crops a year if possible. I am now only planting fig trees with green or yellow flesh when ripe!

TheFigster

Registered:1383434380
Posts: 197

Posted 1401220549	Reply with quote #15

Quote: Originally Posted by AmandaLovesFigs Aw, that is sad, but I understand why they do it. How long ago did you purchase the foreign cuttings and seeds? I'm just wondering when I should expect my letter. Best thing for you to do is keep everything you have away from anything you bought legally!! and I mean at least 50 feet away and not close to any dirt.. As a general rule i always use the mix of bleach and water and soap and completely clean anything I acquire from anyone just to make darn sure I haven't been shipped anything with a disease in it.. of course I have only bought from the U.S.A. So I guess that does make a difference.. did you get a letter yet? THEFIGSTER __________________ WISH LIST:I'M IN ZONE 8A BY FORT WORTH, TX I prefer very sweet figs and two crops a year if possible. I am now only planting fig trees with green or yellow flesh when ripe!

SCfigFanatic

Registered:1396099670
Posts: 143

Posted 1401228005	Reply with quote #16

I purchased seeds from turkey and cuttings from china between Oct 2012 and then Nov 2013. ....if that helps Doug

HarveyC

Registered:1212433117
Posts: 3,294

Posted 1401243103	Reply with quote #17

Quote: Originally Posted by TheFigster Quote: Originally Posted by HarveyC You an buy from Canada if you have an import permit and the requirements are met. The last I looked, no quarantine was required for fig material imported from Canada. HarveyC Where can i get a list of all places that we can and cannot buy from? Do you have such a list yourself? I Don't want to break the law and so far I haven't purchased anything from overseas or even Canada .. even though some look really good on ebay, I know the law is the law and want to be in strict compliance! PLEASE ADVISE THANKS THEFIGSTER Seriously, for a hobbyist, it is rarely going to be worth the time and effort to import cuttings. You will first need to apply for an import permit. See http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wps/portal/footer/topicsofinterest/applyingforpermit That will take some time and they will make it clear to you where you can and cannot import from. I believe Canada is open for imports (with a phyto) and also from the Netherlands, China, Taiwan, Costa Rica, and a couple of other places (with a phyto and quarantine for at least 2 or 3 years). __________________ Harvey - Correia Farms Isleton, CA (Sacramento County) USDA zone 9b, Sunset zone 14 http://www.figaholics.com https://www.facebook.com/Figaholics

AmandaLovesFigs

Registered:1397955636
Posts: 16

Posted 1401411134	Reply with quote #18

Quote: Originally Posted by TheFigster Quote: Originally Posted by AmandaLovesFigs Aw, that is sad, but I understand why they do it. How long ago did you purchase the foreign cuttings and seeds? I'm just wondering when I should expect my letter. Best thing for you to do is keep everything you have away from anything you bought legally!! and I mean at least 50 feet away and not close to any dirt.. As a general rule i always use the mix of bleach and water and soap and completely clean anything I acquire from anyone just to make darn sure I haven't been shipped anything with a disease in it.. of course I have only bought from the U.S.A. So I guess that does make a difference.. did you get a letter yet? THEFIGSTER I actually have not received my shipment and it's been over a month, so maybe it was intercepted. __________________ USA zone 8A: 4 fig trees! Celeste, BT, Magnolia, and Ischia (not sure if white or green) wish list: got all I need for now I think, fingers crossed the cuttings given to me take root for me! Panachee, St Jean de Grise and BlackJack!

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