How to calculate cost of driving accurately?

[StarSeven7]

Whenever asked about food items, I've always simply stated that we have a cooler with food and snacks for the road. They've never enquired any further than that. We are vegetarian so haven't had to worry about declaring meat products, but I've never concealed the fact that we have fruit, cheese, vegetables, etc. Maybe just lucky so far?

I think you've gotten lucky! I think they could very well ask to inspect it and throw it out if they wanted to. We camped in the U.S. twice already this summer and we got asked very specifically about if we had fruits or vegetables along (we didn't) - at 2 different border crossings! And we cross with Nexus so they usually are less stringent with us.

 

[isabellea]

Apples are only allowed in season and if they have a sticker of origin (e.g. Ontario). We also have Nexus ans we only cross the border with pre-packaged food. Nothing fresh to avoid any delay.

 

[Disney Addicted]

Driving back from Florida (April 2018) I had an half-finished huge chicken/fruit salad when we reached the Buffalo border. I showed it to the border agent and offered to throw it out but he said it was fine and waved us through.

I find it's hard to figure out which items are ok or not. It had lots of fruit in it. Going into the States once, a few years ago, we had to leave behind grapes.

 

[isabellea]

Canada doesn’t care much if you bring food in the country as long as you declare it. The issue is really to cross to the USA because they are trying to protect their crops from potential diseases (especially citrus).

 

[FigmentSpark]

Into the U.S., don't take meats or fruits. We take peanut butter, though. Breads would be fine, as would pre-packaged stuff, like granola bars, chips, etc. Popcorn is okay, I think, as well.

Into Canada, I don't think they allow meats and some fruits (ie: apples). But and citrus is fine. We've brought oranges back for many years and it's never a problem.