# Any problems carrying a box of fruit on a plane? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 30, 2006, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-problems-carrying-a-box-of-fruit-on-a-plane/342194 "2006-01-30T13:01:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-problems-carrying-a-box-of-fruit-on-a-plane/342194/1 "2006-01-30T13:01:26Z")
If I wanted to fly from Florida to Ohio with, let’s say, a small box of oranges inside of my carry-on luggage, would most airlines have a problem with that? How about the screener folks? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-problems-carrying-a-box-of-fruit-on-a-plane/342194/2 "2006-01-30T13:22:31Z")
I’ve been to Florida on a few occassions and noticed in the aiport at Tampa, signs explicity forbidding the transport of fruit or vegetables. Which really sucked because I wanted to pick some fresh oranges to take home to Ohio. Now, if you drive there, that’s a different story. My friend just brought back bags and bags of handpicked grapefruit from Florida. Yummy! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-problems-carrying-a-box-of-fruit-on-a-plane/342194/3 "2006-01-30T14:20:46Z")
Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-problems-carrying-a-box-of-fruit-on-a-plane/342194/4 "2006-01-30T14:46:24Z")
I also think that many (if not most) citrus retailers will gladly ship them to you. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-problems-carrying-a-box-of-fruit-on-a-plane/342194/5 "2006-01-30T14:54:36Z")
> [@Mr. Slant](#): > > If I wanted to fly from Florida to Ohio with, let’s say, a small box of oranges inside of my carry-on luggage, would most airlines have a problem with that? How about the screener folks? WAG: To prevent the possibility of fruit flies and other insect pests from hitching a ride on the plane to destinations beyond or instead of Ohio. FDA has an interest. Screeners, who knows, ask one. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-problems-carrying-a-box-of-fruit-on-a-plane/342194/6 "2006-01-30T18:58:24Z")
Umm…the link below suggests carrying fruit on board an airplane can be quite a serious security risk indeed. [Self Defense Against Fresh Fruit](http://orangecow.org/pythonet/sketches/selfdef.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-problems-carrying-a-box-of-fruit-on-a-plane/342194/7 "2006-01-30T19:32:16Z")
> [@](#): > > **Is one permitted to take produce grown in Florida on an airplane?** > There are restrictions on fruits and vegetables going to or leaving some areas. These restrictions may vary from time to time. One should check with the USDA, APHIS, and PPQ officers at airports for current restrictions. Information may also be obtained from the Division of Plant Industry. Source: [http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/onestop/fruit/licbond.html](http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/onestop/fruit/licbond.html) Unfortunately, the site doesn’t offer direct links to [USDA](http://www.usda.gov/), [APHIS](http://www.aphis.usda.gov/), or [PPQ](http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/), nor do those web sites offer an easy way to find information about transporting domestic produce from Florida.