Please help me find somewhere I can mail order, via overnight
shipment, (preferrable from a website), for delivery to New York City,
fresh (not canned), whole Mangosteens. Prior to posting an answer, the
researcher must confirm with the source that they will ship to an
individual in New York City, and the minimum quantity cannot be an
unreasonable amount (I would like to order no more than 25 pounds).  I
will not consider this question answered until I have a mangosteen on
my table.

Hi Phantazem!

I’ve had a great time working on this one...  I feel as though I’ve
just returned from touring the world!

For those of us not familiar with mangosteens,
http://www.mangosteens.com/ (which contains a wealth of information on
the fruit, and links to more) provides the following introduction:

 “The Mangosteen fruit may be the best tasting fruit in the world. 
The Latin name for mangosteens is Garcinia mangostana.  The fruit,
which originated in Malaysia, is a little smaller than a tennis ball,
with a hard exterior purple shell.  The inside contains a luscious
white/translucent, sectional fruit with one or two seeds.  The
Mangosteen is an evergreen tree about 30 to 75 feet tall when mature. 
To open the fruit, cut through the skin only, and lightly pull and
twist the fruit apart.  Storage at 10ºC is ideal and extends shelf
life to about 20 days, but refrigeration causes cold damage.”

(In terms of preparation, About.com suggests “…place the mangosteen in
the palm of your hands, with the flower stem on top, and use your
fingers to exert gentle pressure on it until it cracks open. Another
option is to cut through the diameter of the shell all the way around,
and then simply lift off the top. Just remember not to cut through the
segments.”  (http://chinesefood.about.com/library/weekly/aa072100b.htm
)

There are quite a few sources for importing mangosteen seeds, plants,
juice, even body lotion!  But the fruit itself was a little tougher to
find. After some searching, though, we finally have a winner:

Koerner Agro Export Center.
A division of: Koerner Co., Ltd.
Alma Link Building, 8th Floor.
25 Soi Chidlom
Ploenchit Road
Lumpini, Patumwan
Bangkok 10330
Tel:  (662) 655-1700
Fax: (662) 655-5666
Mobile: (661) 804-6573
Email: james@koerneragro.com
Website: www.koerneragro.com


I contacted them via email and got the following response:

"Dear Rebecca,
 
We can supply to you fresh mangosteen.
 
25lb will be very expensive to send.
 
Usually you need to send +100kg to get a good freight rate.
 
Anyhow we can send whatever you need. Pls advise in kgs.
 
Look forward to your reply."


I looked into 5 sources in addition to Adam, and so far have gotten
only one affirmative response (the other 4 are below).  I'll let you
know if I get another that might be more cost effective:

http://www.fruitlovers.com/new.html
http://www.hawaiipride.com/
http://www.credc.com/tropicalfruitonline/moredetails.htm
http://www.fruitonline.com/wwwboard/messages/711.html

I have not yet heard back from Adam about whether he'd ship under 25
lbs. overnight to NYC... Based on his site, I assume he's still
working out his business plan and may not know the answer yet.  I will
follow up and let you know if I hear from him.

Thanks for the great question, please let me know if you'd like any
further help or information... And enjoy your mangosteens!

Rebeccam-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by rebeccam-ga on 04 Jun 2002 09:51 PDT

(I contacted Culinary Specialty Produce, per davidsar-ga's comment,
but they said they have been unable to import them because of USDA
restrictions.  Trey, the Sales Rep. I sopke to, said there's a company
in Florida selling something called a mangosteen, but in fact they're
selling a baby varietay of mango.)

---

Request for Answer Clarification by phantazem-ga on 16 Jul 2002 14:01 PDT

Rebecca,

After a great deal of time and monetary expense, I have just been
informed by a customs broker, whom I hired, that the USDA will not
allow my mangosteens from Thailand into this country because of
agricultural pests.  Therefore, my shipment, which has been sitting at
JFK airport for several days must be incinerated - again at my
expense.  Any chance you could find a domestic mangosteen grower?

Thanks for trying!

---

Clarification of Answer by rebeccam-ga on 16 Jul 2002 16:32 PDT

Hello again, phantazem!

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles! (Incinerated!?) I was unable to
find someone domestically to ship you mature fruit, but did find this
resuorce for seedlings:

From GardenWeb.com @
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/tropical/msg0503490415473.html
:
Posted by: Cagary zone 10 CA (My Page) on Fri, May 10, 02 at 9:01

"I`m in southern CA and have mangosteen seedlings. 
The plants are about 7 months old and about 6-7 inches tall with
several leaves.
You could stop by to pick one up or I could mail you one. 
You can e-mail me for details."

(I won't post the email address here, but all you need to do is
register with GardenWeb for free, and you'll be able to access it.)


Here is a resource for seeds:

From a post in answer to a request for mangosteen seeds on seedman.com
( http://www.seedman.com/exoticseeds/messages/1581.html ):

"Contact FRUIT LOVERS NURSERY, Oscar Jaitt, PO Box 1597, Pahoa,
Hawaiii HI 96778 USA Telephone and Fax (808)965-9785 "


And here's a crazy idea I got from an article in the Ithaca College
News, March 15, 1999 Volume 21, No. 12.
( http://www.ithaca.edu/icnews/vol21/21-12/powrplnt.htm )  
Try contacting Michael Balick, who was director and philecology
curator of the Institute of Economic Botany at the New York Botanical
Garden at the time the article was published.  You can find his email
address through their page @ http://www.nybg.org/bsci/staf/balick.html
.  The Ithaca article says "He has wandered through New York City
searching for durians, mangosteens, and other exotic fruits to share
with a botany class."  I bet he'd know where to find one!

Please do keep me posted...

Best,
Rebecca

Great job!  I had almost given up hope.  I have been in contact with
James and have placed an order.  Hopefully, I will be enjoying my
mangosteens within a week.  Thanks!

Refer to https://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=18124

for a previous answer to this question, that it seems did not work out.

That post was my original question.  The researcher managed to connect
me with a Guava farmer in California who will ship to me; however, he
was unable to find a confirmed source for mangosteens, so I reposted
that part of my question. (I gave him 5 stars for the work on the
guavas)

Hi!

I am not answering officially, because this source is not yet
operational, but I think when it is, it'll be what you're looking for.

http://www.mangosteens.com/main.htm

This site was last updated on April 14, 2002.  At that time, the USDA
was moving through the steps necessary to approve the author's
application to import Mangosteens from Austraila. (He's considering
importing them under the name 'Mangostina', after his research
suggested the name sparked more interest.)

Here's his plan re. shipping:
"With a supplier identified and the paperwork underway, I am beginning
to focus on market research.  My initial market price is $3.00 per
Mangosteen plus shipping & handling, if applicable.  I am planning
direct distribution (supermarkets, restaurants, etc) in the San
Francisco bay area, but for other destinations, overnight mail would
be required.  While I'm not ready to take any orders yet, I would like
to get a sense of the public interest.  Please e-mail me to let me
know your thoughts about this price point. "

His email address is adam@mangosteens.com .

Good luck!

Phantazem,

I have emailed Adam to confirm that he would ship to you within your
parameters, and asked for an ETA on his ability to do so.  I'll let
you know what I hear!

Best,
Rebecca

Poor Adam at mangosteen.com.   I just called and asked him the same
questions as Rebecca.  In fact, he thought I was rebecca calling back.
 He may be your best bet.  He says the crops become ripe in January
and he may have his permit by then.  I'm sure Rebecca has more info to
offer you.

Here's what Adam wrote me:

"Rebecca -

Thanks for the email.  My permit is mired at the US Department of 
Agriculture.  The progress has been glacial in speed.  I was told the
process usually takes 12-18 months and I am already 17 months in.  I
have
passed three stages, but I am not sure how many more are left.  I will
certainly keep your email information and let you know.  The season
runs
from January - March and I am still hopeful for a 2003 crop.

Adam"

I wrote him back to ask if he'd be willing to ship to NYC under 25
lbs, and am waiting to hear back.  I'll keep you posted!

Many people believe that they can't ship mangosteen to the US. You
might find yourself settling for the mangosteen drink from mistic
beverages (http://www.mistic.com -
http://www.mistic.com/zotics/flavors/thailand.html).

Good luck on your search-- definitely post and let us know if you find
some. It sounds delicious.

Phantazem,

I'm working on another source, but will not officially answer until I
have confirmation.  I'll keep you posted!

Best,
Rebecca

Give this company a call...they think they can get mangosteens (but
aren't 100% sure) for around $12/pound plus additional $$$ for
shipping.  Good luck.

Richard Leibowitz
Culinary Specialty Produce
1190 Route 22 West
Mountainside, New Jersey 07092
908-789-4700
fax-789-4702
culinary@idt.net
www.culinaryproduce.com

Rebecca,

Have you made any progress on that altenate source?  

Adam looks like a very promising option at some point in the future,
but there are no guarentees with the USDA.  I will send him an e-mail
so he can keep me informed.  By the way, did he ever answer you as to
if he would ship to New York, under 25 lbs?

Thanks,

phantazem

FYI, I contacted http://www.agrohawaii.com/resources.htm about
ordering mangosteens and guavas from Hawaii and their reply was:
 
"I don't think either fruit can be shipped fresh out of Hawaii due to
the
fruit fly.  There is a treatment facility in Keaau (Big Island), but I
don't
believe that the protocol has been developed for treating either
fruit."

I inquired with http://www.cyberstreet.com/sunburst/ about guavas and
their response was:

"I spoke with Gary Grochowski of Sunburst and they arebacking off of
guavas
due to short shelf life of the fruit, which they used to stock as
preserves.
So to answer your inquiry, they cannot supply you and do not know of
any other island producer. If you want to contact Gary, the email is
now
sunburst100@aol.com
Tedd Lincoln, Publisher, Pine Island Real Estate Guide
DISCOVER PINE ISLAND - http://www.PineIslandFL.com"

I'm so glad we succeeded... I got attached to this one :)

Best,
Rebecca

I just hope that there are no problems importing them.

Please let me know if you run into problems.  I admit I have no pull
with the USDA, but I'd love to know whether we really succeded (and
I'd love to try a mangosteen myself!)

Rebecca,

Unfortunatly the seedlings are not going to be practical, as the
plants usually do not produce fruit for 10 to 20 years (a long time to
wait) and I neither have the correct environment nor the space (they
can reach 80 feet in height!) to grow a healthy mangosteen tree. I
will see if I can contact Michael Balick for assistance.  Also, James
from Koerner Agro Export Center is attempting to work with me to find
a way that the USDA will allow the shipment from Thailand.  Anyway,
thanks for all your help.  I will keep you updated and if I ever do
succeed, I would be happy to send you a few to try!

I must admit, I was not satisfied with the seedlings 'solution'
either...  I really hope Mrs. Balick and Koerner will be the resources
you need!

It's interesting, I've researched several questions lately that have
to do with the USDA's seemingly over-protective import restrictions
(certainly understandable, but frustrating.)  There seem to be lots of
restricted items that have been or can be made safe, and while the
USDA acknowledges this, they have yet to get around to approving them.
 Such is the way with gov't agencies, I suppose :)

As always, please keep me posted, I'm emotionally invested in this at
this point!  And if/when you get them, I would love a taste (only if
you can spare one... I know now how precious they are!!)

Best, Rebecca

Hi, I've been reading all the comments re: Mangosteen from 2002.  Did
anyone ever get the Mangosteen sent to the U.S?  I know quite a bit
about the "Queen of Fruits"...actually ate some in Madras, India long
before I knew of the scientific studies and folklore uses of its
pericarp (hull).  I sure would like to get my hands on that beautiful
fruit :-)  If you had some delivered in the U.S, let me know.  Thank
loads.
  Sonja

Sunny7777,

Unfortnately, I was never able to find a means of getting the
mangosteens into the USA.  In fact, the shipment that was to be
destroyed at JFK airport "mysteriously" disappeared before it could be
incinerated (my customs broker seemed sure that the customs agents
made a snack out of them).  If you ever find a way to get mangosteens
in the USA, please let me know!

Hi Phantazem,

I will let you if I have any luck in getting "The Queen of Fruit".:-) 
It would certainly help me in my business.  EVERYONE wants to see &
taste.

Sonja

This is the website of an exotic fruit farm that grows mangosteens as
well as other fruits:

http://www.panoramicfruit.com/

They are in Puerto Rico. I think they would have no problem shipping
to the US! They state that on their website that they only do
wholesale quantities, but that they do not grow enough mangosteen to
sell them wholesale. Maybe they would be willing to sell to you.

Xenon128,

Thanks for the tip!  I will contact them and post whether or not I am
successful in getting the mangosteens.

I've been reading this chain of messages and wanted to add some facts
that I have learned in the past 2 years as I've hunted the mangosteen
in the lower 48.

The mangosteen is not legal in 49 of the 50 states.  Hawaii is the
only state that can grow and sell the fruit (but can not export).

My research has found that it can only be purchased from "black
markets."  If you know a professional chef, you might ask them if they
know of a black market for fruit in your city.  They are more common
than you make think....

I've also been told that the north eastern area's of Canada allow the
fruit.  For the gentelman in New York...it may be worth the drive?

Some History of the Mangosteen in Hawaii:  The Big Island is now
producing the fruit in small quantities.  Pinapple fields have been
converted to grow mangosteen.  The plant takes about 8 years to bare
fruit in its natural enviroment.  In Hawaii, it is taking about 10
years.  Because of this...its very expensive.

I hope this helps...