Hot off the press from Stan.

WOO-HOO!
I can go to it this year!!
Can't bring any fruit to the contest, but I will still get to go.
Hope to see many of you there.
I am looking forward to seeing many of my fellow Citruholics that I have not seen in a few years.
Darren

Darren, why can't you bring citrus for the fruit contest? I dont think you would be breaking any laws by bringing fruit? Hope you will reconsider. Im looking forward to seeing many of the citruholics I've met over the years at this years event. Should be a good one!

I am in Charleston County Stan.
No leaves, twigs, stems, plants, scions or any other part of the plant can leave this county.
I have a friend at DPI, she tells me it is a $2000 fine.
Plus I harp on that A LOT at my lectures, so it would be bad on many levels for me to bring some.
Darren

I'm waiting for some of our European members to make the trip.

I would love to, but I don't think I'll make it...

Marc, You do realize there is a 250.00 bonus if you decide to be the first Euro-citruholic to attend??????

Yes I read about that, but I think the total price tag for the trip will still be a bit high for me...

Anyone living in Beaufort or Charleston county, SC who wants to bring fruit to this years Expo fruit contest can do so. I have had authorization from Kristel Hardin of USDA to allow the movement of fruit out of the above counties as long as it contains no leaves or stems and has been properly cleaned. If you have any questions, just send me an email or inbox me here on the forum. Thanks!

Doesn't the competition require stems & leaves? I mean, I could go to the grocery store & buy fruit & claim I grew it.

In years past, the competition did require stems and leaves to prove it was home grown. However, due to the quarantine rules, we will be allowing anyone in a quarantined area to participate. Those outside the quarantine will still have the option of displaying with stems and leaves or the other option. Anyone desperate to enter a contest by buying grocery store citrus is desperate for some attention indeed!

Stan , I may be coming to the Expo and had Just realized something i posted did not all get posted and i corrected it .

Also do you know how much it would cost me to fly back 3 trees ?
Tammy AKA westwood

Thats great news! Im sure you would enjoy a visit with many of your East Coast citruholic friends! Myrtle Beach is a great place to visit with lots of things to see and do.. so the Expo will just be the icing on the cake if you decide to come. Im sorry, I dont have any way of knowing what the cost would be as far as brigning trees on board a flight. If you are transporting gallon size, bare root trees, the cost shouldnt be much..Perhaps someone else can jum in on this conversation that has more knowledge about commercial flights. I havent flown in 30 years!

Westwood,

Whenever legal I bring many plants back with me from my travels in my check in luggage/suitcase. Just pack your clothes for your trip to SC in a carry on and put that luggage inside your large check in suitcase. On your way home just carry all your clothes in your carry on and pack the suitcase up with your plants.

I usually bring plastic bags, string, pruners, packing tape and bamboo sticks on all my trips to bare root or semi bare root my plants and secure them for travel. On one trip I was able to pack about 12 plants into my suitcase. For most airlines as long as your luggage weight is 50lbs or less you won't be charged any extra fees (besides your typical $25 checked luggage fee)

If you want to save money and don't want to check a luggage in on the way there you could still bring your bare rooting materials minus the pruners onboard your carry on. When you get there you could buy a small box at a local Home Depot, Lowes, U Haul store etc. to pack your plants in to check in for your trip back.

There are actually a couple of things I want bring up.
1st: The question of bringing the Citrus tree(s) on the plane. Is it possible that it might be easier or possibly safer/cheaper to mail them back to your home? Just a thought.

2nd: For those of you on Facebook, Stan and I have created a page for the Expo. It can be seen here:
http://www.facebook.com/SoutheasternCitrusExpo
We want as many people to see it as possible. Please like us and pass the word around that way.
We are also wanting pictures from previous expos. If you have some and want to share them there, please do. You SHOULD (?) be able to post them yourself, if you have any problems you can e-mail them to me:
TheCitrusGuy@netzero.com
See you in November!
Thanks!
Darren