Orchids in Fiji and LA customs

[Stefanie]

I'm off to a couple of the Fiji islands (south pacific) in November and I'm looking for information on what the native orchids to Fiji actually are. There are supposed to be some 300 species native to the islands. Does anyone have any information on what I might find.. I'm having trouble locating anything but the fact that they do flower market cut dendrobs.

I have import permits, and I understand that there is a local orchid business on Nadi, but again, I can't find any information, and I would like to plan on bringing back a large shipment, if I could!!

Any information would be appreciated. Also, any information on getting orchids through customs in LA, would be welcome. I have only 3 hours between landing and catching a flight back to the east coast!

Stef

[matucana]

Hi Stef,

go here: http://www.kew.org/wcsp/advanced.do and enter orchidaceae into the family field, then click "Botanical Country", select Fiji and then search.

[Stefanie]

Thanks.. this link is incredible helpful! Now I've got some looking up to do!

Stef

[Tindomul]

Excellent resource, thank for posting it!!

[Ray]

You'll do much better if you ship the plants back to yourself rather than carrying them.

1) They must be bare root and clean of all organic potting medium.
2) You must have CITES documents issued by the country the plants originated in.
3) You must have a phytosanitary certificate as well.

Assuming you have not tried to import any Appendix I plants (that'll get them confiscated and you fined or jailed), they must go to the APHIS inspection station and be cleared before they can move on in the US.

I don't know the details of that process or where that is at LAX, but I'd guess that 3 hours won't do it.

If you ship them via EMS, on the other hand, they will go by air to the APHIS station nearest your home, will be cleared and will be express mailed to you at no charge.

[Stefanie]

Hey Ray - what's EMS and who express mails them to me after APHIS? I imagine that Dulles airport has the nearest APHIS station, but I was always under the impression that one had to have a broker take things through customs and then readdress on the other side? I have imported from the Dominican Republic before and that's what I had to do. Although interestingly enough, I imported from Germany and they came straight through the mail!

I've also gone through APHIS customs in Miami, coming back from Honduras, and I was the only one in line.. took about 3 minutes, as compared to an hour or more for the regular customs line!

Anyway.. I'm curious as to this method of shipping to ones self.. that would obviously be gobs easier!

thanks,

Stef