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Ontario

Hi Everyone. I made the trip across the border today with over 100 envelopes and was stopped by customs. I started asking questions about pumpkin seeds in the mail and they really don't care. The only thing they said if you were
going to mail them from Canada that they be marked somewher on the bubblepack that they are pumpkin seeds. Also as long as they are classified a oversized envelope(bubblepack) that they would not be inspected as long as they are correctly labelled. If they are classified as a package then they would be stopped and inspected. Not sure what the weight limits are but there is no problems. Just like the envelopes that are mailed from the US into Canada they have a customs sticker on it and state what they are. Needless to say I mailed all bubbles from the US post office and will be in the hands of the growers in about 2 to 4 days. I will continue to mail from the US because its cheaper and faster. So it is my hope that this puts the issue of seeds crossing the border to rest. Yes the odd package gets
inspected and opened but that is on both sides, I have received seeds this year and past years that have been open and I am sure US growers have received seeds also that have been opened that were mailed from Canada, so all we have to do is make sure we label the seeds as well when we cross
borders. Sorry for the rambling but us Canadian growers are getting a bad rap and feel if this debate went on much longer that Canadian growers would be at a disadvantage when trading seeds and like most ,we just want to see
the playing field level for everyone. Best of luck to everyone in 2004 and don't forget our auction in BP on the 17th of January. And yes those seeds will be mailed from the US side of the border so bid often and big to help
out the NPGPGA.

drew

1/9/2004 3:50:07 PM

Ontario

Forgot to add, that today the orange alert is still on and they still didn't care about all the envelopes. Orange is their highest security alert. So I hope this clears up all the rumours about seeds crossing the border.

drew

1/9/2004 3:55:01 PM

Greencastle, PA

Drew,
Orange is second highest, red is highest. America can't function without a catchy color-coded system.
Tom

1/9/2004 5:21:16 PM

Hanover,Ontario,Canada

Drew and everyone. If the envelope will slide through the slot of a sizing tool the Can. post office has for envelopes, they can be mailed as an envelope and do not have to have a customs declaration sticker as to what is inside. If they are too thick, they go as a package and must have the green customs sticker on the outside. Hope this helps.I have only had one seed package not arrive out of 25 I have mailed out. I even had Mike Nep.s returned because I had put the wrong address on it and he has received it now - it must be airsick. Dave McCallum

1/9/2004 11:24:45 PM

Long Island,New York

Daver...No Canadian would EVER send a seed bubble so thin it would fit through that slot !! Its just not proper !!....G

1/10/2004 8:42:34 AM

Burt NY

THANK YOU FOR THE SEEDS if i owe you for postage just E-mail us and you will get it. thanks again. Paul

1/12/2004 7:23:22 PM