Día de Muertos at the border: CBP allows cut marigolds but bars orange jasmine, some plants and many fruits

If your Día de Muertos plans include carrying altar flowers or fruit into the United States, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has a reminder: marigolds (cempasúchil) may cross only as cut flowers, while orange jasmine, live marigold, tomato and pepper plants and a list of fresh fruits are not allowed, NBC 7 San Diego and San Diego Red reported on Friday, citing CBP.

Orange jasmine, or murraya, a plant often used on altars, can carry the Asian citrus psyllid, the insect that spreads citrus greening disease, also known as huanglongbing, according to the reports. Marigold plants meant for planting or propagation are banned, and so are tomato and pepper plants from Mexico, because of the risk of tomato brown rugose fruit virus. The fruits on CBP’s list are oranges, sour oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, sweet limes, guavas, mangoes, peaches and pomegranates.

Failing to declare prohibited agricultural items can bring penalties that start at $500 for personal imports and reach $250,000 for commercial ones, the reports said. CBP’s advice is to declare every food, plant and agricultural item you carry, whatever the amount; as NBC 7 quoted the agency, “when in doubt, declare all items.”

What it means if you’re crossing

• Building an altar in Tijuana? Buy the flowers and fruit there and leave them there. Marigolds are sold downtown this week (our story).
• Cut marigolds can go north, but declare them at inspection along with any food.
• Check border wait times before you head back; our alert kit has the links, and our Día de Muertos planner has more ideas for the weekend.