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Old Dec 31, 2011 | 7:41 pm
  #38  
beachfan
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Based on 25+ times through customs:

1) Wine is fine, but may be charged duty (less likely these days as they seemed to have figured it costs them $40 to collect $20).
2) Bread is fine
3) Cheese is fine. The law says you can't bring in raw milk cheeses aged less than 30 days. I always bring them in when I go to France, and I declare it on my form "raw milk cheese aged less than 30 days". Never, even lost a fromage.
4)Fresh Fruit and veg is unlikely to be allowed. I just don't bring in fresh fruit/veg.
5) Meat is not allowed. When I bring in the raw milk cheese, they usually say "got any sausages" or something similar.

If you have something really special, it might be worth the hassle to bring it in. My wife bought orchids from Hawaii to California (the two strictest agricultural importing states) and requested an inspection. Took about 20 minutes and they were cleared.
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