Bringing vanilla beans into the US
 

We may be stopping on Martinique in May, and I might want to pick up some vanilla beans from one of their markets. Anyone have any personal experience as to whether the USDA will allow import of the beans? I know I have to declare them even if they are allowed.

I can't find anything specific on the gov's website, and they seemed to imply that bringing spices from Grenada will result in confiscation, but I think that was in the context of not declaring ag product. When I declared them, they looked 'em over and waved me through.

We brought in a moderate quantity from Turkey. They arroused no interest whatever.

Brought some of those and other whole spices back from Grenada. Declared through customs, no problemo.

My sister brought back vanilla beans from Martinique as a gift for me; I assume she declared them in customs and passed go, though we did not discuss the details.