Grains, Produce, Nuts and Planting Seeds from the United States: Export Buying Guide

Buying grains, produce, nuts and planting seeds from the United States starts with a clear specification and an identified receiving market. Wigmore Trading can assess a sourcing or logistics brief and clarify what is needed for a written offer. A guide or product list is not confirmation of stock, supplier appointment or approval to trade a particular item.

Define the requirement before requesting prices

Distinguish grain for processing, food for direct sale and seed intended for planting. State variety, grade, crop or harvest information where relevant, quantity and destination. Grain and nut orders need moisture, defects and contamination specifications. Fresh produce needs variety, size, maturity, packing and handling requirements.

Set a realistic quality and delivery window

Agree sampling, testing and inspection for the lot being offered. For produce, align harvest or packing dates with transit and sale plans. For seeds, identify the exact variety, lot, germination and purity evidence required by the purchaser and importing authorities. Ordinary food-grade grain should not be represented as certified planting seed.

Products to distinguish in your enquiry

The following are separate specification lines. Identify the exact product, grade or model and intended use rather than requesting an undifferentiated mixed shipment.

• Soybeans
• Corn
• Other Nuts
• Wheat
• Sorghum
• Rice
• Other Fruits
• Apples and Pears
• Sowing Seeds
• Grapes
• Dried Legumes
• Citrus
• Other Vegetables
• Pitted Fruits
• Lettuce

Confirm plant-health requirements before loading

Have the exporter and importer establish the applicable inspection, certification and permit pathway for the product and destination. Plan the time needed to obtain the required evidence before booking a fixed departure. Define temperature or moisture management, loading cleanliness and rejected-cargo procedures. Buying in bulk is useful only when the receiving market can legally accept and use the consignment.

Compare the full commercial scope

Ask each supplier to quote the same specification, quantity, condition, packing basis and named delivery point. List the currency, quote validity, inspection scope, payment milestones and treatment of non-conforming goods. Request actual packed dimensions and gross weights before comparing freight options.

Keep product price separate from collection, export preparation, freight, insurance, destination charges, duties, storage and final delivery. Identify the party responsible for each stage. Do not pay for a shipment whose destination acceptance or essential technical specification is still unresolved.

Prepare a sourcing brief

Send the specification or catalogue reference, quantity and expected repeat demand, receiving location, required date and any supporting drawings or quality requirements. Say whether the enquiry is for an approved replacement, a new production input or resale. Ask for the manufacturer and origin to be identified; a source-country dispatch address alone does not establish origin.

For the official starting point, review USDA APHIS plant export certification and confirm the pathway for your exact product and destination with the responsible parties.

Use the US sourcing directory to compare related product guides, or the US commercial shipping guide when preparing cargo details.

Reviewed 1 November 2026. Gallery images illustrate procurement and logistics; they do not identify offered stock.