Bringing food into Canada
Jul 1, 2008 | 6:37 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
Posts: 90
Bringing food into Canada
I'm planning on heading up to Whistler (from Austin) later this year for a spot of vacation with my sister and family, who are flying in from Scotland. Ideally, I'd like to check a smallish cooler with half a dozen Texas-size ribeyes and a Chilean sea bass - all frozen. I doubt I can source the same quality of cow and fish in Whistler.
Does anyone know if this is possible, both from an airline (US carrier) and Canadian import perspective?
I did search the forums without success, so the usual apology if I get pointed to a thread which answers this question.
Thanks,
- Dr W
Does anyone know if this is possible, both from an airline (US carrier) and Canadian import perspective?
I did search the forums without success, so the usual apology if I get pointed to a thread which answers this question.
Thanks,
- Dr W
Jul 1, 2008 | 7:06 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC*SE, SPG Gold, HH D
Posts: 1,130
Here are the legal requirements:
http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/p...-eng.html#P019
I'm sure you can dig around and find more information, or just give them a call and ask.
http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/p...-eng.html#P019
I'm sure you can dig around and find more information, or just give them a call and ask.
Civil ?
Jul 1, 2008 | 8:20 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: United MileagePlus Silver, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 8,810
In Whistler, likely no, however in Vancouver, through which you will have to pass enroute to Whistler, likely yes.
For the cow you could try -
SHAUGHNESSY FINE MEATS
2233 W. 41st Ave., Vancouver
604-266-6911.
WINDSOR PACKING
4110 Main St., Vancouver
604-872-5635
For the Fish -
http://www.vanmag.com/foodanddrink/r...hmongers.shtml
In all cases I'd phone ahead to make sure what you're looking for is available.
For the cow you could try -
SHAUGHNESSY FINE MEATS
2233 W. 41st Ave., Vancouver
604-266-6911.
WINDSOR PACKING
4110 Main St., Vancouver
604-872-5635
For the Fish -
http://www.vanmag.com/foodanddrink/r...hmongers.shtml
In all cases I'd phone ahead to make sure what you're looking for is available.
Jul 2, 2008 | 5:34 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,665
I'd like to check a smallish cooler with half a dozen Texas-size ribeyes and a Chilean sea bass - all frozen. I doubt I can source the same quality of cow and fish in Whistler.
Does anyone know if this is possible, both from an airline (US carrier) and Canadian import perspective?
I did search the forums without success, so the usual apology if I get pointed to a thread which answers this question.
Thanks,
- Dr W
Does anyone know if this is possible, both from an airline (US carrier) and Canadian import perspective?
I did search the forums without success, so the usual apology if I get pointed to a thread which answers this question.
Thanks,
- Dr W
Jul 2, 2008 | 6:31 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
Posts: 90
Thanks for all - well, most - of the replies. I hadn't planned on sourcing this quantity and quality of food in Canada because - no offense to Canadians - I just can get it almost free here in the Great Nation of Texas. BTW I'm a Scot, not a Texan, so it's nothing to do with bigger and better - just plain old economics. I wondered if anyone had tried this before, that's all.
- Dr W
- Dr W
Jul 2, 2008 | 6:43 am
#9
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 2,686
There are some funny regs about what you can take across the border...true story...I had a boyfriend who lived in Windsor. His sister asked me to bring a frozen turkey (!) across around Thanksgiving....they are significantly cheaper in the US. After looking up the regulations, it said that I could take across 2. Not 3 or a dozen, 2.
Jul 5, 2008 | 11:58 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB PLT again afater a decade as plebian
Posts: 22,946
U.S. beef (and most other meats and food items except for certain raw fruit & veg that are from the U.S.) is fine for import into Canada (done it into Canada several times albeit by land crossings), and no limitations for personal consumption AFAIK. FWIW, ribeye sells for $5-6/lb (lower less-marbled grade) in the smaller independent supermarkets in Vancouver though the big chains and those in Whistler) often sell for much more. Some places sell certified Angus beef for about 1.2-3x more (especially if organic). No idea about the Patagonia Toothfish.
Last edited by YVR Cockroach; Jul 6, 2008 at 12:32 am
Jul 6, 2008 | 12:00 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB PLT again afater a decade as plebian
Posts: 22,946
I thought it was just 1 actually. There are some other limitations on food imports such as $20 in dairy products a person but I've brought in more cheese than this from Europe and they haven't cared.
Jul 10, 2008 | 6:43 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Charleston, SC, USA
Programs: Avis Pref+, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Life Gold, Honors Silver, IHG Plat via MC.
Posts: 6,789
Whistler was built for tourism & has the feel of a tourist-trap mall. Restaurants charge 50--100% more than in Vancouver. IIRC the few grocery stores are boutique-y & probably expensive.
Check out Canada Customs regs. first. What U can't or may not bring, buy in Vancouver or suburbs. If UR into Oriental, the City of Richmond (around YVR) is a giant New Chinatown
!
Also, from phedre's link:
"a maximum of 5 kilograms of edible meats and meat products from cattle, sheep, goat, bison and buffalo.
Note:
All meat and meat products have to be identified as products of the United States."--such as a supermarket's or rancher's label.
Check out Canada Customs regs. first. What U can't or may not bring, buy in Vancouver or suburbs. If UR into Oriental, the City of Richmond (around YVR) is a giant New Chinatown
!Also, from phedre's link:
"a maximum of 5 kilograms of edible meats and meat products from cattle, sheep, goat, bison and buffalo.
Note:
All meat and meat products have to be identified as products of the United States."--such as a supermarket's or rancher's label.
Jul 10, 2008 | 9:15 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: United MileagePlus Silver, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 8,810
Not true - You may pay slightly more to compensate for the cost of freighting the food up, but certainly not 50 - 100% more. A dinner at The Keg in Whistler will cost about the same as a dinner at The Keg in Vancouver. Ditto for the 'fine dining' restaurants. Ditto Ric's Grill and on it goes...
Jul 10, 2008 | 1:58 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,665
The real people in Whistler don't live by the hotels. North of the fake village and to the west of the main road there's a residential area with a real supermarket. There's also one (The Grocery Store) at the north end of the condos on the east side by the Golden Arches of Blackcomb Way.
Jul 10, 2008 | 6:52 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 8
Thanks for all - well, most - of the replies. I hadn't planned on sourcing this quantity and quality of food in Canada because - no offense to Canadians - I just can get it almost free here in the Great Nation of Texas. BTW I'm a Scot, not a Texan, so it's nothing to do with bigger and better - just plain old economics. I wondered if anyone had tried this before, that's all.
- Dr W
- Dr W