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USDA-APHIS-International Travel-Hawaiian Agricultural Products

Hawaiian Agricultural Products

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Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
The shipping or mailing of most fresh fruits and vegetables from Hawaii directly or through Alaska or Guam to the continental United States is prohibited due to the risk of introducing certain invasive plant pests and diseases. Fresh pineapple and coconut are permitted after inspection.  Fresh papaya, abiu, atemoya, banana, curry leaf, dragon fruit, longan, lychee, mangosteen, rambutan, starfruit, and sweet potato are permitted, but must be treated at a USDA-approved facility and packed in boxes that are properly marked and stamped. Shipping or mailing processed fruits and vegetables is permissible. Processing methods include cooking, drying, or freezing. If freezing, all fruits must be frozen solid at the time of inspection. Frozen mango must be without seeds. Please contact APHIS for more information about approved processing methods. Telephone numbers for local APHIS offices in Hawaii are provided below.

Items From Hawaii Allowed Entry into the U.S. Mainland, Alaska, and Guam (after passing inspection):

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  • Beach sand
  • Coconuts
  • Commercially canned foods
  • Dried seeds and decorative arrangements
  • Fresh flowers, leis, and foliage, except any citrus or citrus-related flowers, leaves, or other plant parts, as well as jade vine or Mauna Loa (for more information on bringing back leis, please read our travel sheet:
    Know the Lei of the Land: How To Make Sure Your Leis Can Come Back to the U.S. Mainland)
  • Hinahina (Spanish moss)
  • Irish or white potatoes
  • Fresh pineapple
  • Treated fruit, such as papaya, abiu, atemoya, banana, curry leaf, dragon fruit, longan, lychee, mangosteen, rambutan, starfruit, and sweet potato*
    Plants and cuttings**
  • Rocks and stones
  • Seashells, not land snail shells
  • Seed leis and seed jewelry
  • Wood (including driftwood and sticks) and wood roses (dried)

* Note: These fruits must be treated at a USDA-approved facility and packed in boxes that are properly marked and stamped.
** Note: For certifying rooted plant material, contact the Hawaii Department of Agriculture.

Additional Items from Hawaii Allowed Entry into Guam:

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  • Beets
  • Rutabagas
  • Turnips (without tops)

Additional Items From Hawaii Allowed Entry into Alaska (not to be re-transported to the contiguous United States):

  • Green banana
  • Chayote
  • Lima bean
  • Okra
  • Green onion
  • Pea
  • Pumpkin
  • Snow pea
  • String bean
  • Watermelon
  • Winged bean
  • Winter melon
  • Yard long bean
  • Zucchini

Items From Hawaii Not Allowed Entry into the U.S. Mainland and Alaska:

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  • Fresh fruits and vegetables, except for those listed above as permitted
  • Berries of any kind, including fresh coffee berries and sea grapes
  • Cactus plants or cactus plant parts
  • Cotton and cotton bolls
  • Fresh flowers of jade vine, and Mauna Loa
  • Kikania and fresh pandanus
  • Live insects and snails
  • Seeds with fruit clinging and fresh seed pods
  • Soil or any plants in soil
  • Sugarcane
  • Swamp cabbage (unchoy)
  • Sweet potato (raw)
  • Mock orange

This information is subject to change.  For the most up-to-date information, contact your local APHIS office:

  • Honolulu (808) 834-3220
  • Kona (808) 326-1252
  • Kauai (808) 245-2831
  • Hilo (808) 933-693
  • Maui (808) 877-5261

For information on how to certify plants and cuttings, contact the Hawaii Department of Agriculture:

  • Honolulu (808) 832-0566
  • Hilo (808) 974-4141
  • Kauai (808) 274-3071
  • Maui (808) 872-3848
  • Kona (808) 326-1077

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Agricultural Information for International Travelers

TRAVELER ALERT

USDA prohibits rice, soybeans, Cicer species (e.g., chickpeas), and safflower seeds from 26 countries, including India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
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