Shipping Mediterranean foods from Vancouver to buyers in the United States
Seattle is a day's drive from the warehouse. Chicago and New York are a rail booking away. US restaurants, grocers and distributors buy from Vancouver stock the same way Canadian buyers do, with one difference: the goods cross a border, so your customs broker files a US entry and an FDA prior notice with the product data we supply.
- Origin
- Vancouver warehouse, BC
- Border
- Pacific Highway crossing at Blaine, WA, for truck lanes
- Onward
- Truck to Seattle; rail intermodal to Chicago and New York
- Importer of record
- You, through your US customs broker
Two ways to buy
- Delivered at place, to your dock
- We book the carrier and the pallet travels to your door. You are the importer of record: your broker files the entry and prior notice, and duties and fees are billed to you. The price list shows the delivered price without duty, so your broker's landed-cost estimate is a simple addition.
- Collected from Vancouver
- Your own carrier or forwarder picks up at the warehouse. Distributors with regular northbound trucks returning empty often prefer this. We hand over the documents at loading.
The US entry steps, in general terms
An outline of what happens on a shipment from Vancouver to a US buyer. It is not legal advice; your broker and the responsible agency confirm the specifics for your business and product.
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Facility registration
Food facilities that manufacture, process, pack or hold food for consumption in the United States register with the FDA. The producers we buy from and the warehouse that holds the goods carry registrations; your broker confirms the numbers before the first shipment.
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Prior notice
Each food shipment entering the US needs a prior notice filed with the FDA before it arrives. Your broker or forwarder files it from the commercial invoice and the registration data we send with the booking.
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Customs entry
Your broker files the entry with US Customs and Border Protection. The FDA reviews the shipment and may examine or sample it. Duty depends on the tariff line and the origin of the goods; because the oil, tomatoes and spices originate in the Mediterranean rather than in Canada, the USMCA preference does not apply and your broker confirms the applicable rate.
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Labels
Goods sold in the US carry US labels: English, the US nutrition panel format, and the net quantity in both US customary and metric units. Retail SKUs marked "US label available" in the catalogue have this artwork ready; foodservice tins ship with the producer's export label.
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Release and delivery
On release, truck pallets continue to Seattle the same day. Rail pallets are loaded at the intermodal terminal and delivered to Chicago or New York by the receiving carrier.
Lanes into the US
| Destination | Mode | Indicative transit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle and Portland | Truck | 1 to 2 business days | Crosses at Pacific Highway. Weekly consolidated runs; full loads on demand. |
| Chicago and the Midwest | Rail intermodal | 6 to 9 business days | Delivered to DCs or cross-docked for LTL to Minneapolis, Detroit and St. Louis. |
| New York and New Jersey | Rail intermodal, then truck | 8 to 11 business days | Final delivery by regional carrier. Appointment-based receiving is the norm. |
| Other US cities | LTL from the nearest hub | Add 1 to 3 business days | Quoted per shipment with the price list. |
The home page carries the lane map for both countries. Canadian destinations are on import to Canada.
Who handles what
| Task | Harbourline | Your broker or forwarder | You |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of analysis | Issue and send | Review | No |
| FDA facility registration numbers for producer and warehouse | Supply | Verify | No |
| FDA prior notice | Supply the data | File before arrival | No |
| Customs entry, duties and fees | Declare HS heading | File and remit | Pay |
| Carriage to your dock | Book, when delivered at place | Book, when collected | Receive |
| US label artwork for retail SKUs | Coordinate with producer | Review | Approve |
Related pages
6.0 Quote request
Tell us the US destination and the volume. We quote delivered at place or collected from Vancouver, with the document list for your broker.
Quoted per shipment, held for 30 days.
Request a price list