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Little-TON - Colorado

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/DisplayPhoto.asp?pid=7522&gid=-32842

Just an FYI for sending out seeds in the mail to different countries. Lil Gracey's Dad could of got jail time for seeds sent to him that were not properly declared in the post to New Zealand. We certainly wouldnt want anyone to spend 5 years in jail over a pumpkin seed....

They are only seeds, but New Zealand has very strict rules for this....

I like to declare them as "Pumpkin Seeds" and include Cucurbita Maxima on the declaration. Often times after they inspect them, they let them proceed on. However New Zealand has tightened their laws over the pass year or so.
Growers BEWARE....

5/22/2015 1:24:29 PM

Central NY

Eeeessh... Glad that worked out...

5/22/2015 3:45:59 PM

South Hero, VT

I sent 80 seeds to New Zealand in a box that vanished last year, even after following protocol.

Apparently you need a phytosanitary certificate now.

5/22/2015 4:52:13 PM

Hamilton - New Zealand

Gareth started the phone call to me with "Will you visit me in jail" luckily they understood that they were being sent to him without his knowledge and he has been let off.

And yes, any seeds coming into the country need a phytosanitary certificate, and after talking to people from all sides, it appears expensive and hard to do, and wastes a lot of seeds.

So while some seeds can come into the country as they won't be checked, any that do will be investigated, sent back to the sender, or in probably a lot of cases destroyed. We are hoping the restrictions lift sooner rather then later, but things aren't looking too good for that.

5/23/2015 12:13:18 AM

Muddy Waters

Yes its a 60,000$ fine

5/23/2015 2:15:41 PM

South Hero, VT

Are they doing cavity searches yet?

5/23/2015 2:30:23 PM

Hamilton - New Zealand

Up to a $100,000 fine or up to 5 years in jail. Cavity searches for seeds will probably start next week.

5/23/2015 3:03:29 PM

Sourthern Utah

dang this is starting to suc badly for our sport, hope cavity searches aint neccessary,, be tough on some folks,, best to all, Curt

5/23/2015 4:10:27 PM

Muddy Waters

Everytime I stick one in my cavity Two cotts and a true leak pop out of my Buttocks!!lol

5/24/2015 6:43:25 AM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

It must be fertile Mark. Definitely no lack of manure, eh? :)

5/24/2015 7:06:32 AM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

I'm glad I finished eating before I read Mark's post.

5/24/2015 2:36:40 PM

N S W Australia

n.z. must be different than Australia, i have received a few seeds from America and Canada and they came through fine.
as long as you write cucurbita maxima on the package.
i hope nothing changes here;;;regards--garry

5/24/2015 4:14:45 PM

Hamilton - New Zealand

The rules changed on December the 1st, it's all about stopping the Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus from getting into the country.

It effects all Cucurbitaceae seed, and I think they have broadened what has been banned since that initial decision. I'm not sure if you have that virus already, but hopefully they don't bring in the restrictions we have. I wrote about it here:

http://www.giantpumpkins.co.nz/changes-to-importing-seeds-into-nz-what-you-need-to-know/

5/25/2015 4:42:19 PM