Shipping fresh food (dates) tips? >.>;

[Ksandra]

So, my dad has a passion for fresh dates (really green, right off the tree type), which are hard to come by. Just got a random call from my mother-in-law who got a hold of some so I could ship them to him. I've never shipped any kind of food before, so just seeing if anyone has any tips about packaging to make sure they get there fresh or if I have to do anything special (via regulations) since it's food going across states (california to connecticut). I am not to sure if there is a safe way to put them on ice without it leaking all over the place in the process or something.

[samalis]

A close friend of my family has a date farm in cali. I'll call and ask what you should do in a bit.

[Ksandra]

awesome thanks :D

[samalis]

What kind of dates are they? Honey?

edit: Either way it's fine to just stick them in a box and ship them, without ice.

[Nightbreed]

I would just do Priority Mail, unless they live in a remote town they should arrive in 2 days. They will be fine without ice.

[Elesirdur]

Just a thought, but would the dates fit in an egg carton? Could put a few of those in a box and ship them. Since they're going to be going through some mail facilities and the trucks/planes to get them their, I would advise wrapping everything in celo wrap or some kind of water-tight package; dates could get kind of nasty otherwise.

[Miroku_Asura]

Just a thought, but would the dates fit in an egg carton? Could put a few of those in a box and ship them. Since they're going to be going through some mail facilities and the trucks/planes to get them their, I would advise wrapping everything in celo wrap or some kind of water-tight package; dates could get kind of nasty otherwise.

The egg carton idea is brilliant- never even thought of it. I was just going to suggest having their dad go to the local Persian market- every city (unless we're talking serious Boonie action) will have at least ONE ethnic market.

[Amelya]

I don't know anything about dates, but if they need to be kept cool you could just put a few cheap ice packs in there and use styrofoam to insulate it.

[Caiyuo]

I always see food that needs to stay frozen shipped with dry ice, but I don't know if that's going overboard or even something you can get.

[samalis]

It should take about 2 days, the family friend said it's fine to ship them without ice.

[Ksandra]

The egg carton idea is brilliant- never even thought of it. I was just going to suggest having their dad go to the local Persian market- every city (unless we're talking serious Boonie action) will have at least ONE ethnic market.

lol, just to clarify, my parents live in a town that doesn't even have it's own post office. There are no Persian groceries in the area. Any Arabic food he's gotten in the past has to be shipped from NY. Most of the arabic grocery stores in CT are about the size of a 7/11 and are very limited.

It should take about 2 days, the family friend said it's fine to ship them without ice.

Thanks!

Just a thought, but would the dates fit in an egg carton? Could put a few of those in a box and ship them. Since they're going to be going through some mail facilities and the trucks/planes to get them their, I would advise wrapping everything in celo wrap or some kind of water-tight package; dates could get kind of nasty otherwise.

Egg carton is a great idea. I will definitely package them that way. :D