It’s a warm, fruity treat: Mexican holiday punch, or ponche, served at celebrations starting in mid-December. It also can land border-crossing revelers in hot water.
Three key ponche ingredients cannot be taken across from Mexico because they may bring pests with them, according to a holiday reminder from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Sugar cane _ served with the punch in raw, chewable sprigs _ can harbor sugarcane borers, or Diatrea considerata. Tejocotes (Hawthorne apples) and guayabas (guavas) can carry destructive fruit flies.
“If they do have doubts, always declare those items so that you’re not penalized,” said Angelica De Cima, a spokeswoman for the agency.
A failure to declare can result in a $300 fine, or $500 for a second infraction.
The forbidden imports are cheap in Mexico, where they’re widely distributed at Christmas time. But you can find U.S.-grown varieties in San Diego at grocers that cater to Mexican tastes, like Santos Farms Market on Lincoln Avenue in North Park.
Proprietor Santos Nunez propped up eight-foot stalks of cane among rows of fruit and dried chilies. California tejocotes, when they arrive in late November, can sell for $7 a pound or more, he said.
For more information contact U.S. Customs or review articals found in the San Diego Union-Tribune.
No comments:
Post a Comment