Crossing Into Canada - question(s)? About This Page:

[Tonichelle]

Will we be able to take a cooler/cool chest across the border into Canada? We're wanting to save a bit of money by having food stuffs in teh car with us, but we're not sure if we'll have to wait and do the grocery shopping in Canada... we assume processed foods would be okay, where as stuff like fruits and veggies wouldn't be?

[revral]

Fresh fruit and vegetables can't be brought across the U.S/Canadian border whether you're going in to Canada or coming in to the U.S. Things liked bottled/canned drinks and food and other food items that are (commercially) packaged are fine. Even sandwiches are fine as long as they don't have produce in them. You will probably be asked about any food you have with you. Just tell them what if anything you have and they'll tell you if you need to eat/toss it before crossing the border. You can always pick up a couple of apples or whatever at grocery once you get across the border just make sure you can/will consume it before you re-enter the U.S.

[Tonichelle]

thanks! that's what we were hoping for!

[mom2twingirlies]

I know the rules are different, but we have never been asked about food coming back into Canada - only going into the U.S. We generally get more questions about firearms, liquor and tobacco products (and money in excess of $10,000 - like that's ever an issue).

Here is the information from the Canada Border Services:
Food Products

Canada has complex requirements, restrictions and limits on the importation of meat, eggs, dairy products, honey, fresh fruits and vegetables, and other food from around the world. For example, the importation of root crops may be regulated and that of potatoes is prohibited. You can avoid problems by not bringing these kinds of goods into Canada.
You can import certain meat and dairy products from certain states in the United States. Before entering Canada with these products, contact BIS at one of the telephone numbers listed in the section called "Additional information," or refer to the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) on the CFIA's Web site at Welcome Page | Page d'accueil.
The CFIA and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada have set limits on the quantity and/or dollar value of certain food products you can bring into Canada duty-free or that you can include in your personal exemption. Unless you have an import permit from Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada for quantities over and above the established limits, you will have to pay duty based on a rate ranging from 150% to 300% of the value of the goods.
The following are some examples of the limits that apply to personal importations of food products from the United States:

• 2 dozen eggs;
• 20 kilograms of dairy products not exceeding $20 in value (e.g. cheese and butter);
• 3 kilograms of margarine or butter substitutes; and
• 20 kilograms of edible meats and meat products, including turkey and chicken.

Within this limit, more CFIA and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada restrictions apply as follows:

• a maximum of one whole turkey or 10 kilograms of turkey products;
• a maximum of 10 kilograms of chicken; and
• 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.
You also need permits to import some types of food controlled by the CITES, such as caviar. However, if you are bringing caviar into Canada as a tourist souvenir or as part of your personal or household effects, you can have in your possession a maximum of 250 grams of caviar without a CITES permit. For more information, contact the CITES office at one of the telephone numbers listed in the section called "Endangered species."

[Carousel96]

Don't know where you'll be crossing -- we were at Niagra Falls this week and didn't get asked about what we were bringing in either direction

[Tonichelle]

will be crossing from Washington State

[RobinKay6573]

I have traveled in and out of Canada more times then I can count and I have never been asked about produce. I had a bag of Vermont apples sitting on the passenger seat and he never said a thing (this was in 2007). I had my car searched (everything taken out) in 2001 and I had my trunk searched this past March. Of course they found nothing (because there wasn't anything to find)...and I was on my way. The funny thing is in March my friend (who is an assistant prosecutor) gave me her passport and badge when I handed over all our documents to him. *snort* Maybe he was just trying to be thorough because he knew she was "someone"?