Can I send a conker to the USA?
October 14, 2014 8:58 AM
My friend in Utah has never had a conker. I want to send her one. It's a seed, but not a foodstuff. Is that cool with US customs/USPS?
Yeah, your friend might know them as Buckeyes. Those you could find to ship from within the US.
posted by olinerd at 9:07 AM on October 14, 2014
posted by olinerd at 9:07 AM on October 14, 2014
A horse chestnut can be known as a buckeye, but not all buckeyes are horse chestnuts.
They may be closer to your friend than she thinks.
posted by zamboni at 9:11 AM on October 14, 2014
They may be closer to your friend than she thinks.
posted by zamboni at 9:11 AM on October 14, 2014
There are no entries on the USDA/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Fruits and Vegetables Import Requirements database (the list of approved fruits/vegetables/nuts/etc. that can be legally imported into the US) for conker, aesculus hippocastanum, horse chestnut, or buckeye. If you can find it there under another name, you have a shot, if not, you can consider it implicitly prohibited, if I understand correctly.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:12 AM on October 14, 2014
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:12 AM on October 14, 2014
Importing them could be problematic because horse chestnut appears on various USDA lists as a carrier of pests, such as.
However, this order dated 2010 seems to allow seed importation, which this would be. You would have to remove the spiny shell which is not technically part of the seed.
This info is from USDA. Customs, however, has its own bureaucracy and may have another view.
posted by beagle at 9:16 AM on October 14, 2014
However, this order dated 2010 seems to allow seed importation, which this would be. You would have to remove the spiny shell which is not technically part of the seed.
This info is from USDA. Customs, however, has its own bureaucracy and may have another view.
posted by beagle at 9:16 AM on October 14, 2014
It's not on the Fruits and Vegetables list cited by DirtyOldTown because it is not an edible fruit or vegetable.
posted by beagle at 9:17 AM on October 14, 2014
posted by beagle at 9:17 AM on October 14, 2014
For what it's worth, there are horse chestnut trees here in Utah. I can't imagine you'd have any problem sending a seed to a place that has that same plant in abundance. Personally, I'd just send it and beg forgiveness rather than ask permission.
posted by _DB_ at 10:36 AM on October 14, 2014
posted by _DB_ at 10:36 AM on October 14, 2014
I think Border Control/USDA/USPS are the only ones that can answer whether it is cool with them--I would guess it is harmless but I would not send anything unless I was absolutely sure that it was pest free/sterilized.
posted by rmhsinc at 11:13 AM on October 14, 2014
posted by rmhsinc at 11:13 AM on October 14, 2014
Thanks for all the input guys. I think I'll find a place in the US and have them sent internally, I really don't want to cause an international incident :D
posted by tzb at 1:50 PM on October 14, 2014
posted by tzb at 1:50 PM on October 14, 2014
I'm pretty sure I've seen these trees in Salt Lake City.
posted by trbrts at 9:56 PM on October 14, 2014
posted by trbrts at 9:56 PM on October 14, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by catatethebird at 9:05 AM on October 14, 2014