Fruit Shipping- Can You Do It On Your Own?

So you have a beautiful garden full of fragrant fruit producing trees and shrubs but how on earth are you going to eat it all. After all, there is only so much jam, marmalade, jelly, cakes and pies you can make let alone eat if you do not eat all the fruit before it goes bad. It is practically a third job after your employment and your family! But is it possible to send these fruits to friends and family members in other states? From what you gather fruit shipping can be illegal and you will end up spending lots of money sending packages that will not arrive to your gift recipient.

Fruit shipping is slightly complicated. There is not just one federal law like in many other countries. Yes, the United States Department of Agriculture has regulations and stature over states, but each state has also created their own regulations according to what suits their agricultural needs. Fruit shipping needs to be regulated as it helps in the prevention of the spread of disease, blight, pest infestation and the crop destruction that can result from the spread of these maladies. It can be difficult to find fruit shipping restriction information. It is best to start by researching your own state’s regulations either by contacting the United States Department of Agriculture for state contact information or perhaps if you know the state governing agency for agriculture, you can contact them directly or visit their website for information regarding fruit shipping. Next, you will need to find out what the regulations of the states you are sending to. Unfortunately, fruit shipping regulations vary from state to state so they may not be the same. Once you have learned more about the fruit shipping regulations you can proceed as necessary.

If there are limited restrictions, you will need to pack the delicious fruit carefully in a sturdy cardboard box fit for fruit shipping. Ensuring there is enough padding in the box to absorb any shock from the box being dropped or falling during the fruit shipping process, it is also a great idea to have a refrigeration mechanism in the box as well. This can be done by adding an ice or dry ice pack in the box. Also note that you should never wrap the fruit in plastic as it will cause the fruit to sweat and perhaps even rot. If you are wrapping the fruit, always wrap them in brown paper so the fruit can breathe. Once you have securely wrapped all the fruit, close the box and mark it as perishable so that the delivery personnel know as well as your gift recipient to handle the box with care.

Taste the Sunshine with Hale Groves

At Hale Groves, we believe the best gifts come from the land, not a factory. For generations, our fruit has been grown slowly under the Florida sun, picked at its peak, and delivered fresh to your door. From sweet Navel Oranges to rare Honeybells, every gift shares the simple joy of real flavor—perfect for holidays, milestones, or everyday moments worth celebrating.

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