Date:         Mon, 20 Jul 2015 23:02:34 -0400
Reply-To:     James <jk_eaton@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         James <jk_eaton@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Crossing the Canadian border...
Comments: To: Dan N <dn92610@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <CAFdLW6kMqNWpa0wVeR28RRLCba1nxe6vQbpmxVrJDhkkgZTHpA@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Fresh fruit and vegetables are generally not a good idea to take across any border - coming into Canada, citrus and bananas will generally be ignored (we don't grow any) but apples, grapes, lettuce, carrots, cabbage can be confiscated.  Meat products coming in may be confiscated too.  Best rule is to eat it all up before hitting the border.  Anything canned, cooked, frozen or otherwise processed and packaged is fine.

Be aware, too, that while Canadian border guards MAY confiscate certain fresh fruit and vegetables, on your return to the USA Homeland Security WILL confiscate all fresh fruit and vegetables - in particular any citrus.  Of course, this depends on the guard (some people do get through) but every time I've driven into the USA over the last five years I have always been asked about fresh fruit and specifically citrus being brought in.

The rule on bringing alcohol into Canada is that you can bring in any amount you want - BUT you will pay duty and taxes on any that is above your allowance - and Canadian alcohol duty is steep.  Alcohol allowance per traveller is 1.5 litres of wine OR 1.1 litres of distilled spirits (whisky/rum/brandy/vodka etc.) OR 24 12 oz cans of beer. For example, if there are two of you, you could bring in two 750 mL bottles of wine and 24 beer, or 24 beer and a 40 oz of whisky.
 The list is here: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/atl-lat-eng.html
Undeclared alcohol will be seized - though a kind border agent may let you just pay the duty/taxes plus a fine.

James
Ottawa, ON

> Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2015 19:48:05 -0700
> From: dn92610@GMAIL.COM
> Subject: Crossing the Canadian border...
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> 
> on the upcoming trip we will cross the Canadian border and visiting
> Vancouver Island... 1st time...
> 
> there's a NO NO on fire arms and illegal drugs... we know...
> 
> can we keep out fresh products (veggies and fruits) and errr liquors...?
> 
> thanks
> 
> dan