O.K. Straight from the horses mouth. I called the California Department of Food and Agriculture Phone #(916) 654-0312 and talked to Mr. Saleem, who works in the department that covers things including shipping plant material into California, and he gave me the following links to see if you can ship trees or cuttings from individual states into California. We went to each link together as we talked on the phone. He said though in some states you might find a quarantine on trees, tree's with roots and tree's with no roots, but if it does not 'specifically say' “cuttings” under (quarantined items- then you can ship into California.)  You are allowed to ship them    (An example of a State with a 'cuttings 'quarantine is Alabama which I talk about at the bottom of the page).

I was surprised however, that in some states (Including Alabama) that have cutting quarantines, that there may be exemptions for air-layers. Scroll down to the heading of "Exemptions", to see if air layers are exempt and how they must be packaged. Please go to your individual State for details.

I asked Mr. Saleem that as an example if someone from New Hampshire wanted to ship cuttings into California, could they? He then took me online to look at the State of New Hampshire (to their first pdf #205 and then to the second page) to see if there were restrictions. And as we read together over the phone though there were certain restrictions 'on tree's not grown year round in greenhouses', that the restriction did NOT Include CUTTINGS, I was VERY specific in my question, if it did not include cuttings, and he said no, it did not include cuttings. It was O.K. To ship them into California.

 Example for New Hampshire:

Regulated Articles. 1. Trees without and with roots, and shrubs with roots and persistent woody stems, unless they are greenhouse grown throughout the year. (Also see Appendix C) 2. Logs, pulpwood and bark and bark products. 3. Mobile homes and associated equipment. 4. Any other products, articles, or means of conveyance, of any character whatsoever, when it is determined by an inspector that any life stage of gypsy moth is in proximity to such articles and the articles present a high risk of artificial spread of gypsy moth infestation and the person in possession thereof has been so notified.

(Note: Notice it did not say cuttings). Cuttings are fine to ship.

If you want to see if you can ship cuttings or other plant material into California from your state go to the links I've listed below. 

Links:

http://pi.cdfa.ca.gov/pqm/manual/htm/pqm_index.htm

Next go to 'quick reference' for quarantined areas' or just go to the next link (Below)

http://pi.cdfa.ca.gov/pqm/manual/pdf/101.pdf

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 101.1 PLANT QUARANTINE MANUAL 03-16-12 QUICK REFERENCE EXTERIOR & FEDERAL DOMESTIC QUARANTINE AREAS Numbers refer to Quarantine Page Numbers.

The States are in alphabetical numbers and next to them in blue boxes with numbers, they will have information having to do with quarantines for that specific State. The gentleman (Mr. Saleem) said to (specifically look for the number 315 ) in regards to cuttings and tree material (though personally I would be more thorough and read anything related to your state). IF YOUR STATE/County does not list a specific quarantine on 'cuttings', then you can ship into California. The man (Mr. Saleem) is a little hard to understand (accent) but was patient and helpful. If you have additional questions I'm sure he can help.

For an example of a State that you can't ship cuttings from, see below. Alabama that shows that cuttings are regulated or quarantined referenced under the number 315 Look at #4 under article C/

http://pi.cdfa.ca.gov/pqm/manual/pdf/315.pdf

100. Articles and Commodities Covered. The following articles and commodities are restricted entry into California when arriving from the area under quarantine. 1. All earth (including sand and soil) and potting media. 2. All plants and plant parts with roots (including aerial roots). 3. All parts of plants produced below the ground or soil level. 4. All plant cuttings for propagation.
     
      

Hope this helps some of you who want to ship to California but didn't know where to start. (I'm going out for the night. I know I may not be explaining everything properly but the basics are here and are the guidelines the State of California uses).

Excellent information. Your post should be made a sticky post so it is easily referenced.... Thank you!

I don't know how to sticky anything but my fingers lol. How would I do this?

I think an admin or moderator would have to do that...

Proper labeling for cuttings to California and Hawaii. It is the same for both, confirmed by the USDA in both States, and I have used it many times without a problem;

  Plant Material Enclosed;
 "Ficus Carica"
  Common Fig Cuttings
  Source (example, me) Wallingford Ct USA
  Available for USDA inspection.

Completely above board and legal. They do use dogs to smell for soil, i.e., plants.

Mike

This is great to hear!  Thank you for sharing the info!

I've had a least 10 USPS shipments of cuttings sent to me in Calif from various people in other states over the past six months (no special markings on the packages) and all arrived with no problems.

You can send whatever, any way you like.

The markings just make it legit, and legal, the way they (USDA) would like to see.

They are attempts to prevent smuggling and the introduction of pests and disease. This is especially true and valid for a State like California, which is the source of over 30% of the nations food.

 Fig cuttings are probably accepted because the insects, diseases and such figs are susceptible to, have readily affected the US for years, IMO.

I also feel better not hiding something, especially when there is no reason to.

Invasive species and infections are a serious issue, so I look and act to respect the problem.

Mike

Good information. Thanks!

Just found this in the regs. as well. In some states like Arkansas where there are restrictions on cuttings, they make exceptions for some items like 'air layers -  "d. Plants secured by air-layering if roots are established and enclosed in the original soil-free moss wrappings". So there may be other avenues of getting your figs to California. I like Mikes suggestion. Label everything. Be upfront. It will go well more times than not. 

Hi Conrad.  I was just responding to the information Mike sent our way, not disagreeing with your comment in any fashion. My experience has been like yours, I and I think 99.9% of people haven't had trouble getting cuttings sent UPS or in the mail either. So I wasn't disagreeing or trying to twist what you said, though it may have been read that way. If so, I'm sorry.  There was that scare a few weeks back about a certain party threatening people if they sent cuttings in the mail and I have missed out on ordering from people because of it, so I'm hoping this info clears the air.  Have a blessed day.  

"It is unlawful to ship or transport any plant, cutting, animal, fruit or vegetable into California that does not comply with quarantine requirements."

"If you ship agricultural products into California, you must state on the outside of the package the common or scientific name of the item and where it was grown.  Failure to properly identify the contents of your shipment can cause your shipment to be destroyed."

https://www.sccgov.org/sites/ag/pests/Pages/plants.aspx

Thanks "just me" it confirms what Garlic Mike said in an above post. 

I'm actually someone else.  I only use this to post questionable content. You think I would post something like this publicly?

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/show_single_post?pid=1283880689&postcount=5&forum=0

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/fauzi%E2%80%99s-figs-6831825

You never can tell who is watching. I also use a VPN proxy server.  Right now I'm in Athens  Greece   Lol :)

Absolutely not,  it's pretty clear you fell off a long time ago

“When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser.”

― Socrates

Is it slander if its true?

Back to the OP thread....

Great post Noel! From now on I will make sure to label my shipments. It seems to be a good practice anyhow.