Food into Ontario Canada

This should be helpful:

http://inspection.gc.ca/food/information-for-consumers/travellers/what-can-i-bring-into-canada-/eng/1389648337546/1389648516990

I live in Ontario and one of the last stops I always make when returning home from the states in a grocery store. From my experience at the border they are always more concerned about alcohol and cigarettes. We have high taxes on them and can only bring a limited amount over the border without paying taxes.

Many Canadians who live near the border often hop over to do weekly grocery shopping.

Wendy

There is the odd grocery store in Ontario where your .American dollar will be a boon for you.

The list that Kathy linked provides a good description of what's allowed. I a bit curious on why you don't just buy food when you arrive in Ontario? I'm sure there are numerous grocery stores there. We certainly have lots of them in B.C.

Ken, for over 10 years we drove to Ontario from Michigan each summer for a week in a cottage, and we always brought non-perishable groceries with us (without any issues ever) because we live in an economically depressed area where grocery prices are considerably lower than in the resort town where we stayed. We bought perishables at the local supermarket and blanched at the prices (even taking the exchange rate into account), especially for meat. We also shopped at the local bakeries and farmers' markets. We did have an issue once returning to the US when we were pulled over for an agricultural inspection because a fresh apple was in view in the car. We have joked ever since that we could have smuggled in undocumented aliens in the trunk but that apple caused such a fuss!

We would like to bring our own stuff so we can get to the house and not worry about going to the store. If I can get the shopping done the night before we can settle in and be done and enjoy our time. No one likes going to the grocery store...last I checked. And, we have a preference for our butcher, no offense to any Canadian products.

Be careful what you carry back into the US. Marc says he had trouble over an apple. We got busted (sent to secondary inspection for a thorough search of our car) for having an orange that we brought from the US and did not eat in Canada.

For crossing into Canada, note, that the steaks must be packaged and properly labeled.

If you have a pet, there are also restrictions on dog food.

. . . and you need paperwork to get a pet into Canada and back into the US. The last time I checked, the requirements were outlined on the websites of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But you are just going for the weekend. Really, how much food do you need? Besides, with the advantage to you of the difference in the exchange, why not at least enjoy a dinner or lunch at any of the great restos in the area?

There is a lot of things which are more expensive in Canada but as I noticed groceries don't belong among them. I would just say buy it in Canada. I was going across the border quite often because my relatives live in Canada. Canadian customs don't mind bakery or canned food but I got into trouble with fresh fruit and they confiscated it.

It's really mostly for breakfast. Staying in a really nice VRBO property and the weather is supposed to be pretty dreary. I would just prefer to get shopping done before we head up and then have what we need to relax.....

Shopping for groceries (or anything else) in a different country is part of my holiday experience, as well as my daily ritual back home. I'll even see how the local Ikea store compares. Once you have checked what your rented kitchen already contains you can go to a store for perishables. Google Maps will help; type in your address in Niagara-on-the-Lake and "groceries " and it will send you on your way. I know there is a family supermarket called Avondale. The town has clung to its heritage as a comfortable retreat from city life so any mall shopping will be more easily done enroute from the Falls or St. Catharines.