Fruit and Veges on the nullabor

Rebecca
Turn what you have into fruit salad before the quarantine point...no problems!
I was told that only whole fruit is subject to quarantine.

Rebecca,
The WA checkpoint is at Border Village.Your best bet to restock will be at Esperance or Kalgoorlie, The small towns before there will be pretty expensive and not a great variety.

I was in WA a couple of months ago and was fairly disappointed with quality and prices of F&V.
Drus suggestion of Fruit salad could be challenged at the gate, some of the Inspectors go by the book 100%.
Regards Mike.

Rebecca

The quarantine point is at Ceduna but I think its only for people travelling into SA.

This link says it all:
http://www.quarantinedomestic.gov.au/destination-western-australia.html
I've heard of people getting F&V at Eucla.
Commercially packed dried fruit is allowed and might be an option - should be able to get it at Foodland Ceduna.

The quarantine checkpoint going into WA is at Bordertown and the inspection is likely to be thorough. We saw one group who tried to be a bit smart about it having ALL their gear spread out on the road and their stuff totally unpacked! It would have taken an age for them to pack up again. Virtually no fruit or veg can be taken in and nor can honey. Raw fruit salad is unlikely to make the grade. They are seriously trying to protect their industries and it is hard to criticise that!
We had stocked up at Ceduna as we did not get the right advice there and intended to spend a week getting to Norseman.
So we camped just east of Bordertown and cooked or par cooked everything. Then our fridge was neatly stacked with containers of fried onions, lightly steamed vegies, soup, stew and stewed fruit. We also had some canned and dried fruit and veg. This did not take long to do and we sailed through the checkpoint with no problems. If you even look as if you are hiding anything you will be there for a while!
So begin introducing your toddler to stewed fruit and soup well before you get there.
Most fussy kids like butternut pumpkin soup with cracker biscuits or par cooked vegies crisped up into "chips" in a frying pan and served with tomato sauce! He is unlikely to starve before you get to Norseman. Just relax and enjoy the trip. Lynne

Yep - sage advice above, re the serious attention the inspectors give to their work ! But we found them very reasonable people - and to be sure, the more agreeable you are toward the process, the less time the inspection takes...it can be done in a couple of minutes......literally. Great to hear about the little fruit bat - I hope junk food never gets a look in.

Hi
Potato's only need to be peeled as the peel is the problem , never had a worry with them peeled. I think carrots are the same. No honey or fruit or veggie boxes as well, seen them make a couple towing a trailer with tomato boxes packed with their goods in them, unload and give them the boxes.

Cheers
Charlie

I live in Broken Hill and travel a lot to Adelaide now there is a fruite and vegi check just after yunta I forgot the towns name but for us we drive up to the check point and he say are you from the hill and do you have any fruite or vegie s we say no that is it they know that what not to bring so normally it is a easy pass but the last trip we got stick behind a Victorian car who sat down and argued with the inspector that Broken Hill was in South Australia and he bought all his fruit and veggies in Broken Hill and therefore he is allowed to keep them after 15 minutes local police were called and in the end he was told to hand over all of his fruite and vegies he had just purchased in Broken Hill he left saying that Broken hill is in SA and he will make a formal compliant to the the inspectors boss on how rude his staff were to him so it is not always a easy slam dunk when passing the inspection points you do get the odd arrogant person who makes life of the inspectors job hard .

Thanks everyone. I'm a little confused about where the checkpoint is still. Everyone seems to have named a different place. Thanks for all the other advice. Quite happy to abide by the laws just making sure we are prepared as I hate wasting food. Little disappointed about the big pot of tasmanian honey we brought with us. I didn't realise honey was an issue :). The van is going ok Ma and Pa. We have had some issues with batteries etc but slowly getting it sorted ourselves. Any recent posts by Sam H (my partner) will explain the issues we are having.

Go with Mad Habits' advice.

All fruit, veg and honey.

If you are "slowly" making your way across and want fresh fruit and veg before Norseman phone Norseman IGA and ask if you can make an order to pick up at a roadhouse west of the border. Usually they only do this for people living out there but will help slower travelers like cyclists, runners and walkers. With a baby they may make an exception. It won't hurt to ask and know your options.

Cheers
Terra

We have a cook up the night before reaching the WA border, and know all about no honey, and no cardboard cartons that have held fresh foodstuff. I peel onions and potatoes well and present them for inspection.

You can manage easily without fresh veges using frozen, dried or canned products. Salads is about the only thing you cannot cook or blanch and freeze. We can last a day or three without that.

Will your fussy child eat stewed fruit or commercial dried fruit?

Motherhen

Gday,
Cant you take canned, bottled or dried fruit and baby food until you get hold of fresh fruit? Try making a phone call to Eucla and see what they stock , there are probably a lot of people in the same situation as you and they might even keep fruit there.......if you ask nicely they might even order in what you need?


Makes me laugh when I hear all the different ways people use to get their fruit and veggies across the borders.
Some people sit there and eat everything until they are sick? Some make soup and eat it until they hate the sight of it? Drown it in dressing? etc etc........surely not everyone wakes up in the morning and says...shit.....I might cross the border today and I just did my fruit and vegie shopping yesterday????? Ive been known to be pretty impulsive before but cant say Ive ever been caught at a border with a fridge full of vegies.... LOL

Personally if I plan to cross a border where there are quarantine issues I make sure we use up the things that are not allowed across the border, or if we have something left in the fridge we haven't eaten, bin it. I would hate to be the one to destroy a states agricultural industry over a tub of bloody coleslaw. Even if they do let you getaway with taking it in.

Cheers

Thanks everyone. As I said not worried about the laws just wanted to know where to restock. No he won't eat canned, cooked or puréed but we will manage. Just wanted a bit of idea.

When it comes to the preparing fruit salad stuff, we have been allowed enough for our next meal. I think that's about as far as they will go.

Another thing we do is have something for them to take. We show them and ask if it is OK (knowing full well it will be take.) That enhances the personality test. It's when you fail the personality test that you are in strife. Co-operate and things go smoothly.