From producer to buyer
How we import
Ten steps bring food from a producer abroad to a buyer in the United States. For each step, this page shows who does the work, the milestones of a fresh mango shipment and notes for packaged food.
We work with licensed customs brokers. Fresh Pakistani mangoes are irradiated at a USDA-approved facility before sale, as US rules require.
First shipment
July 2026: the first Chaveyz mangoes we sold were flown from Lahore to Houston, treated at a USDA-approved irradiation facility in Mississippi, and delivered to customers in Houston.
How to read the steps
- Mango lane
- The milestones of a fresh mango shipment, from harvest in Pakistan to delivery to the buyer. This is a general guide, not the record of one shipment.
- Packaged-food lane
- Notes for packaged food, such as dried, canned or bottled products. Some rules apply to all food, fresh or packaged.
The ten steps
1. Source and qualify
- Who
- Zulq Trading, our supply-chain partner and the producer
- Mango lane
- Sourcing and quality: Chaveyz Global Ventures FZCO.
- Packaged-food lane
- The producer tells us what it makes and sends its documents and labels.
2. Harvest or produce
- Who
- The grower or the food producer
- Mango lane
- Harvested
- Packaged-food lane
The food is made in the producer's facility. The facility must be registered with FDA, unless it is exempt.
3. Pack and label
- Who
- The packing house or the food producer
- Mango lane
- Packed
4. Hand to carrier
- Who
- The exporter or its freight forwarder
- Mango lane
- Handed to the carrier
- Export and logistics: Chaveyz Global Ventures FZCO.
- Packaged-food lane
- Packaged food can travel by air or by sea.
5. In transit
- Who
- The airline or the shipping line
- Mango lane
- In transit to the United States
- Packaged-food lane
Fresh or packaged, FDA must receive Prior Notice before imported food arrives.
6. Arrive
- Who
- The cargo terminal at the US airport or seaport
- Mango lane
- Arrived in the United States
7. Clear customs
- Who
- A licensed customs broker
- Mango lane
- Customs cleared
8. Treat if required
- Who
- A USDA-approved treatment facility
- Mango lane
- Irradiated
Until it is treated, the fruit must travel in approved insect-proof packaging. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and USDA APHIS decide whether it may move from the port of arrival to the treatment facility.
Steps 7 and 8 do not always happen in this order.
9. Distribute
- Who
- Zulq Trading
- Mango lane
- Distributed
- Packaged-food lane
- After import, Zulq Trading distributes the goods from Houston to wholesale and retail buyers.
10. Deliver
- Who
- Zulq Trading or a local carrier
- Mango lane
- Delivered
- Packaged-food lane
- The goods reach the buyer, for example a grocer, a restaurant or a distributor.
Who does what
Five parties share the work.
| Party | Role |
|---|---|
| The producer | Grows or makes the food, then packs and labels it. Registers its facility with FDA when US law requires it. |
| A licensed customs broker | Prepares and files the customs entry. |
| A USDA-approved treatment facility | Treats fresh produce against pests when US rules require it, for example by irradiation. Only facilities approved by USDA APHIS may do this. |
| Zulq Trading in Houston | Zulq Trading LLC: distribution and sales. We work with licensed customs brokers. |
| Our supply-chain partner in Dubai | Chaveyz Global Ventures FZCO, our supply-chain partner: sourcing, quality, export and logistics until goods land in the United States. |
US requirements in plain language
Here are four US rules for imported food, in plain words. Each one links to its official source. Rules change, so please check the source for the current version.
FDA food facility registration
A facility that makes, processes, packs or holds food for consumption in the United States must register with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before it starts this work. The registration is renewed every two years, between October 1 and December 31 of each even-numbered year. A registered facility outside the United States must also name a US Agent: a person or company in the United States that is the link between FDA and the facility. Some places do not need to register, for example farms.
FDA Prior Notice
FDA must receive and confirm Prior Notice before imported food arrives at the first US port. The deadline depends on how the food travels. For example, it is at least 4 hours before arrival by air and at least 8 hours before arrival by sea. Food without adequate Prior Notice can be refused and held at the port.
The importer's duty to verify suppliers (FSVP)
Under the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP), a US importer must check that each foreign supplier produces food with the same level of safety that US rules require. The importer must also check that the food is not adulterated and that allergens are labeled correctly. The method depends on the food and its risks. If the foreign supplier controls a hazard that has a reasonable probability of causing serious illness or death, FDA generally requires an on-site audit of the supplier before the first import and at least once a year after that. Other methods include sampling and testing, or a review of the supplier's food-safety records.
USDA rules for fresh fruit, and irradiation of Pakistani mangoes
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), part of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), sets the plant-health rules for bringing fresh fruits and vegetables into the United States. These rules depend on the product and the country it comes from. Some products must be treated against pests, for example by irradiation. Only facilities approved by APHIS may do this. Fresh Pakistani mangoes are irradiated at a USDA-approved facility before sale, as US rules require. Fresh fruits and vegetables generally need an APHIS import permit. When fruit is treated after it arrives, an importer must also sign a compliance agreement with APHIS. Other agencies, such as FDA and CBP, also have rules for imported food.
- APHIS: Phytosanitary Treatments for Imported Commodities (new tab)
- APHIS: Agricultural Commodity Import Requirements (ACIR) database (new tab)
Search for the product and the country of origin, for example mango from Pakistan.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Questions
Do you only import from Pakistan?
Our first product is Chaveyz mangoes from Pakistan. We are open to food producers and exporters in other countries too. Tell us what you make.
How does a first order work?
We start with a trial order. Before it, the producer sends its documents and labels. After the trial order, we talk with the producer about next orders.
Who handles customs?
We work with licensed customs brokers. The broker prepares and files the customs entry.
Does packaged food need irradiation?
It depends on the product. Fresh Pakistani mangoes are irradiated at a USDA-approved facility before sale, as US rules require. For other foods, the USDA APHIS import requirements show the rules for each product and country of origin.
APHIS: import requirements (ACIR) (new tab)Where are the mangoes treated?
Fresh Pakistani mangoes are irradiated at a USDA-approved facility before sale, as US rules require. The first Chaveyz mangoes we sold, in July 2026, were treated at a USDA-approved irradiation facility in Mississippi. They were then delivered to customers in Houston.
How long does an import take?
It depends on the product, how it travels and the checks at the port.
Tell us what you need.
Producers, buyers and partners: send a short note and a person at Zulq Trading will read it.