At the end of April, we'll be spending several days in our favorite city, Montreal. At the end of every trip, we head to Little Italy to stock up on fabulous cheeses, breads, pastas, fresh veggies and fruits, etc. at the Capital and the outdoor market. We've never encountered any problem bringing the wonderful food items across the border into the States. Now, with the events of 9/11 will there be a problem? Also, can you advise us of any other fabulous shop in the area which we should check out. Thanks for your input.

There is a sign posted at all US border crossings that says something to the effect that you must declare all fruits and vegetables. Perhaps, if the fruits and vegetables are ones that are not grown in the US, they will let you bring them in. You must have been lucky to have been able to bring fruits and vegetables back. However, most of the time US customs officers don't check what you have. However, they are doing random checks and if you are caught with these items, you could be in big trouble.

Big trouble?<BR><BR>Hardly-they're just Veggies not Bombs or Grass.<BR><BR>Why not check out the US Customs site on-line?

Fruits and vegetables from other countries are not allowed in to protect the US produce from diseases and insects. It is a felony to bring them in. Take your chances if you want.

9-11 is irrelevant, except that your chances of being searched may be higher now than before. The rules are unchanged. Some fruits, vegetables, and cheeses are allowed, some are not. Pastas shouldn't be a problem. Check US customs for a list of allowable items.

My father in law just went back stocked up with deli meat from little italy and even with the cooler in plain sight, nobody asked or cared.

Deli meat is not considered fruit and vegetables and is not restricted!

I thought bologna was a vegetable

Theyre not going to check. And if they do at the very worst you'll have to throw them away or eat them. They are not going to throw you in prison or anything.

Plants and citrus fruit are not allowed from Canada into U.S.

"Plants and citrus fruit are not allowed from Canada into U.S."<BR><BR>LMAO!!!<BR><BR>Some of you jokers are the greatest!!!<BR><BR>I mean just consider how much Citrus and how many Plants we import from the USA-the idea that they somehow wouldn't be allowed back in is hilarious.!!!<BR><BR>Thanks for making my day people!!!

Silly "A traveller" thinking he's very witty, doesn't seem to realise that importing items commercially, and a family bringing fresh produce along in a car, are two seperate things.<BR><BR>It's also the same situation when you drive into California from another state. They even have road checks on the state border for that very reason.

It is a felony to bring fruits and vegetables into the US. That being said, I once brought a coconut from the Caribbean throught Florida. However, I told the customs agent I had it. He asked me how long I was going to be in Florida. I told him for a couple of hours. When I promised not to take the coconut out of my suitcase, he let me in. Another time, the customs agent at the Canadian boarder let us bring in an extra bottle of liquor in, but we told him we had it.<BR><BR>When crossing the boarder, tell the customs agent what you are bringing in. He/she may or may not let you bring it in. However, if you don't tell them, and they do a random search, you are at the mercy of the customs agent. According to US law, you could be charged with a felony. IS IT WORTH IT?

Not really an answer, but an anecdote. We drove from Seattle to San Francisco 2 summers ago and had bought some fabulous Ranier cherries at Pike Market. At the "border crossing" from Oregon into California there was a checkpoint with the toughest, meanest looking "Produce Police" I had ever seen. When we admitted to the cherries, which we honestly did not know we could not bring in and understand why, we were all asked to leave the car and it was checked for other contraband. My kids continue to give me grief for having parents who are fruit smugglers.

Actually, there is restrictions on the foods you can bring into the US and Canada. At the US border crossing, the agent made us give him the Clementines we were eating because they were from Morocco....

Thanks everyone for your input! We will, indeed, be somewhat cautious regarding what items we take across the border. Pasta, breads, cheeses and sauces will still come home with us however... how we love to return and extend our memories of each visit to Montreal by indulging in a marvelous dinner with your exceptional foods. <BR>Thanks again...you have a marvelous city which we look forward to visiting time and again.

I do not know what they are enforcing on the east coast, but out west they are fussing over fruit/veggies grown on both sides of the border. On my last trip over I was grilled upon returning. (They always seem fussier when you are returning home.) I was on my decrepid 80s ratbike painted in garish colours with leathers to match and rather than the usual 'any dope or handguns' question, she hit me with 'any fruit?' I replied, 'two apples and one banana'. She asked 'red skinned or green?' which I took to mean the apples. I had to cough up the apples because they were red skinned, but I could keep the banana. I must be getting old if they think I am more interested in smuggling fruit that dope.

Just to correct a previous posting, you are prohibited from bringing almost any kind of meat back to the U.S. Learned that one the hard way.

To: A Traveller<BR><BR>Hate to break it to you, but there are several signs on the Peace Bridge (Fort Erie to Buffalo) stating that citrus fruits and plants are not allowed into the U.S. from Canada. I've been crossing the bridge for 40 years, and those signs have been there for as long as I can remember. Also, you will often see fruit and flowers next to the customs booths (that had to be left there because they were not allowed in). I think the meat thing must be fairly new (maybe because of mad cow disease).

Maybe I should qualify what I stated before. The USDA web site says:<BR><BR>"Regulations prohibit you from bringing in fresh, dried, or canned meats and meat products from most foreign countries."<BR><BR>So perhaps that doesn't include Canada. Supposedly things change often based on pests and diseases.