USDA rules prohibit shipping of fruits out of Hawaii. This has nothing to do with postal carrier. The fines are imposed by USDA.
Japan requires a phyto sanitary certificate even for seeds of cacao, so i would think that cacao pods would also require a phyto sanitary certificate from the shipper. Japan has very strict agricultural rules.
I'm just telling you what the laws are. I'm not making any appraisal of the laws. I ship all the time and get packages inspected through USDA. Been doing this for many years.

Oscar, thank You for answer. Last year I checked in the USDA and there was no such information. Maybe something has changed. Can You show us specific US (USDA) law that says it? I mean a specific legal provision that mean: "sending theobroma fruit from havaii is illegal" or something similar (exept US post rules). Thanks

If you want to obey US regulations, literally it even nuts contain moisture and are never completely dry for that matter. Actually, they contain little moisture and can not spill. Completely dry seeds unfortunately are almost always dead. It seems that the US post regulations however allow for the shipping of nuts. I think the idea of the postal regulations was to not send very wet fruits which cracking can contaminate other consignments. Cocoa (eg mocambo or cupuasu) definitely does not belong to such wet fruit and in this case we can quietly talk about the zeal of posters. Unfortunately literally it belongs to the fruit and are little wet inside - so if the official does get it you can not send them.

The basic problem is that we citizens are giving ourselves impose harmful regulations for us. We allow officials to do what they like. Even such foolish as the destruction of a unique collection. For example, in Poland, family farms are listed in the Constitution and are subject to special protection (as are described basic human rights), but this does not prevent officials from restricting access (for city people and peple from protected farms) to underground water. We have to asking for permission to collect rainwater, or order/buy water from the Officials. Such and similar regulations are really illegal overzealous and it takes many years for someone to change that. Everywhere in the world there are different rules that are contrary to common sense and the interests of the people, mainly for the purpose of someone else to tax us in different ways. How does it affect biosecurity? On the one hand, it is feared that some organisms introduced without control into the ecosystem would be severely burdened by it (this was the case with prickly pear in Australia). The only question in these case: is the ecosystem was so poor and scarcely growing there because of drought? And finally they find solution. Prickly pear is there, but eaten for some other organisms. It is also worth asking yourself what are the universities and the researchers? Why do we subsidize these institutions? Probably also for this purpose, they soon fall into the epochal idea that harmful pimple at this point is eaten by certain other organisms! That just need to move where it is needed. World do not end because of it. On the other hand, human activity is still leading to ecosystem disruption by running mono crops, destroying soil, seas and oceans by using pesticides and fertilizers. Why officials do not stop pesticides so quickly like they stop seeds trading? Because there is lots of money (tax added to pesticides). We have to know that pests + foreign plant varieties are moving naturally without control. These officials think that they might stop it, hahahaha:)) The bureaucrats will not stop this process because they are not able to verify everything, and their main purpose is to justify their need. They can only delay what will happen anyway, and take taxes, interrupt people and occasionally catch a plant with pests. The question is, are these officials in need of us at all? Is it possible to resolve such issues only the universities themselves and the appropriate will of officials with respect for the rights and freedoms of the citizens? Is it a coincidence that such institutions like biosecurity do not make more confusion than useful things I leave you dear readers to consider yourself.

Hi Maryoto,

PM sent. Regards.

Hi Carlos, do You have or will have any cacaui this season? Regards. Dominik

Hi AnnonaMangoLord45. The plant on the left at the bottom looks good, the flowerpot in the middle at the bottom does not contain a plant (may still go?), and in the middle at the top contains a germinated plant and one germinating. The flowerpot at the bottom right, contains one damaged plant (broken tip with cotyledons in the seed) and probably two other plants that are ok. Do not rush to remove the seed casings. In most cases they fall off alone. With undue pull, it is easy to break the tip and the plant is destroyed. I do not see here other reasons to worry. Regards. Dominik

Hi Micah,

there is an answer: http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=281.msg230735#msg230735

Regards
Dominik

The new leaves looks a bit pale, some minor black spots here and there, and the underside of new leaves are oozing out some sort of sticky syrupy-like texture. I guess the black spots are a fungy which lives on the "syrup".
The suryp tastes kind of bitter-sweet(yes, I have done a couple of taste-tests..).
Theres no pests to be found, Ive checked the whole plant with a loop a couple of times. No nothing.

Have you guys some idea about what it might be? Too much/too little water, bad fertilizer, something else?

Hi Jontte. It is probably because scale insects (diaspididae). At the beginning - it is quite difficult to see them when they are young and not a professional gardener, but when you hit it several times in the future you will recognize without a problem. You have to know that scale insects (+ aphids and spider mites - Tetranychidae) love mangoes. Scale insects can move from other plants in your home, aphids and spider mites usually get trough by open window  or from other plants.

Diaspididae (if you git them) are hard to remove. Their secretion is called fall. It is sticky and sweet. Basidiomycota family mushroom develop on it - then its change color to black.
I suggest to take the magnifying glass and carefully check the mango. It might help. Good luck.

shinzo, i think you have not perfect soil in your pot. It should be more aerated soil (with the addition of vermiculite or other mineral). It seems to me that you water the plant too often. The ground should dry at the top before you watering land again. When soil little dry at the top - then the roots get some air. At the moment the roots of your plant are largely rotting.
Regards. Dominik

Hi, did you solve the problem or still need help?
Dominik

Hi Gustavo,
PM sent.
Regards. Dominik

I'm thinking year round, it's going to be a small 8 to 9 feet tall greenhouse in the corner of my yard

I assume that it already build and finish soon? So you do not want to buy a ready solution but to do everything yourself? In this case You'll need:
system for maintaining temperature (heating) system when temperature drop down (below +10 celsius). See which type of energy is the cheapest and most convenient for you (usually it is gas or electricity - heating cables etc). Something to maintain humidity (humidifier or open water tank and fountain), ventilation (opening windows, fan, etc.) Optionally, the shading system or big tree near greenhouse (or just shading sheet). Best when everything automate then you can safely go for a few days of vacation

Hi Schutzhund. It depends on whether it takes to be greenhouse year-round or only seasonal. Seasonal, of course, easier to do and prepare than year-round. Of great importance is the location and specific construction of the greenhouse facility. In short, depending on whether it is from the south or from the north, how high is the greenhouses, whether they are large trees shading if they do not exist - you struggled with different issues. Regards. Dominik