Fresh & Refrigerated Produce
Fruits, vegetables, and other perishables moved in temperature-controlled reefer containers, where every hour of transit time affects shelf life.
Food and Agriculture Logistics Solutions.
We manage time-sensitive supply chains for perishables, raw materials, and packaged foods, from origin to final destination, with the customs and regulatory expertise that food and agricultural imports demand.
We deliver tailored logistics solutions to meet the specific demands of the food and agriculture industry. From farm to fork, we manage time-sensitive supply chains for perishables, raw materials, and packaged goods, ensuring quality, safety, and compliance every step of the way. Our team brings deep industry knowledge to navigate food-grade storage requirements, temperature-controlled transportation, and regulatory standards to keep your products fresh, secure, and on schedule.
Farm to forkOne licensed partner, end to end
The Food and Agricultural Cargo We Move.
From reefer containers of fresh produce to bulk grain, every category of food and agricultural cargo, with the handling each one requires.
Frozen Foods & Proteins
Frozen meat, seafood, and prepared foods held at a constant deep-frozen temperature from origin to destination, with no break in the cold chain.
Dry & Ambient Packaged Goods
Shelf-stable consumer foods, canned and packaged products, and beverages moved in standard dry containers at container volume.
Bulk & Bagged Agricultural Commodities
Grain, oilseeds, feed ingredients, and other bulk commodities moved as bulk or bagged breakbulk cargo, distinct from containerized freight.
Wine, Spirits & Specialty Beverages
Temperature-sensitive wine, spirits, and craft beverages that need careful handling and consistent conditions in transit.
Food-Grade Raw Materials & Ingredients
Spices, flavorings, food additives, and other ingredient inputs that require food-grade handling and accurate classification at entry.
FDA, USDA, and Customs Requirements, Handled.
Food and agricultural imports carry their own layer of federal review on top of ordinary customs entry. A licensed broker keeps that review from becoming a delay.
FDA / FSMA
FDA Import Requirements & FSMA Compliance
FDA-regulated food imports require advance electronic notice before arrival, and many suppliers must meet Foreign Supplier Verification Program requirements under the Food Safety Modernization Act before their goods are eligible for entry.
How we help: confirm which FDA program applies to your product, file the required advance notice, and coordinate with your supplier's verification documentation before the shipment sails.
USDA / APHIS
Phytosanitary & Agricultural Import Permits
Fresh produce, plants, seeds, and many raw agricultural products require a phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country and, in some cases, a USDA APHIS import permit before they can clear at the U.S. border.
How we help: verify permit and certificate requirements for your commodity and country of origin, and flag documentation gaps before cargo is loaded, not after it arrives.
Classification
HTS Classification & Trade Remedies
The HTS code sets the base duty rate on every line of a food or agricultural shipment, and select commodities are also subject to antidumping or countervailing duty orders that can add significant cost if missed.
How we help: classify every product correctly, screen for applicable trade remedy orders, and document the reasoning behind each entry.
Bonds & filing
Customs Bonds, ISF & ACE Entry
Every import needs a customs bond sized to its duty exposure, and ocean shipments require an Importer Security Filing at least 24 hours before the vessel loads, or the container is held.
How we help: size the bond correctly, file the ISF on time, and manage entry through ACE so cargo moves without avoidable delay.
This page is general information, not legal, tax, or customs advice; trade measures change and vary by product, origin, and destination, so we verify the rules in force on each shipment.
One Partner, From Origin to Distribution Center.
Every link in the food and agricultural import chain, coordinated by a single team so nothing is lost in a handoff.
Ocean & Air Forwarding
Temperature-controlled ocean carriage and time-critical air freight for perishables, proteins, and packaged goods, booked by the same team that clears them.
Customs Brokerage & FDA/USDA Clearance
Entry filing, HTS classification, and coordination of FDA prior notice and USDA phytosanitary requirements, by a licensed customs broker.
Cold Chain Warehousing & Distribution
Refrigerated and frozen storage, staging, and inventory management that keeps perishable cargo at the right temperature until it moves again.
Inland Trucking & Reefer Drayage
Temperature-controlled trucking from the port or airport of entry to your warehouse or distribution center.
Bulk & Breakbulk Agricultural Cargo
Grain, feed ingredients, and other bulk commodities moved outside the container, with the vessel booking and handling that breakbulk cargo requires. Project cargo
Duty Drawback & Trade Compliance
Recovery of duties paid on imported ingredients or packaging that are re-exported, plus ongoing compliance support as regulations change.
Why Importers Choose W.M. Stone.
Food and agricultural cargo carries a shelf life and a federal review process most freight does not. We are built to manage both.
A Broker and a Forwarder, One Team
We are a licensed U.S. customs broker and a freight forwarder, so the team that books your shipment is the same team that clears it at the border.
Cold Chain Discipline
We understand that a delay measured in hours, not days, can cost a perishable shipment its shelf life, and we plan and monitor accordingly.
250+ Years of Industry Experience
Our team brings a combined 250+ years of logistics experience to every food and agricultural shipment we handle.
A Norfolk Legacy Since 1907
W.M. Stone continues a Norfolk customs brokerage legacy that began when William Meade Stone received the city's first customs brokers license, working out of the Port of Virginia ever since.
Food & Agriculture Import FAQs.
The questions importers ask us most before moving food and agricultural cargo into the U.S.
What is FDA Prior Notice, and does it apply to my food shipment?
Most food products imported into the United States require advance electronic notice to the FDA before they arrive, and many suppliers must also meet Foreign Supplier Verification Program requirements under FSMA. We confirm which requirements apply to your product and file what is needed before the shipment sails.
Do I need a phytosanitary certificate or USDA import permit?
Fresh produce, plants, seeds, and many raw agricultural products need a phytosanitary certificate from the country of origin, and some commodities also require a USDA APHIS import permit. We verify what your specific product and origin require before cargo is booked, so the paperwork is in place when it arrives.
How do you keep perishable cargo within temperature range during transit?
We coordinate reefer container bookings, monitor the cold chain from origin to destination, and arrange temperature-controlled inland trucking and warehousing so your product never sits outside its required range.
What is a customs bond, and why does my food import need one?
Every commercial import into the United States requires a customs bond, which guarantees payment of duties and compliance with import regulations. We size the bond to your actual shipment volume and duty exposure.
Why use a licensed customs broker instead of just a freight forwarder?
A freight forwarder arranges transportation, but only a licensed customs broker is authorized to file your entry and clear cargo with CBP. W.M. Stone is both, so your freight and your clearance move as one coordinated process instead of two handoffs.
Can you move bulk grain or feed ingredients as well as packaged food?
Yes. Alongside containerized perishables and packaged goods, we handle bulk and bagged agricultural commodities such as grain and feed ingredients as breakbulk cargo, with the vessel booking and inland handling that bulk freight requires.
Credentialed to Move Your Food and Agricultural Cargo.
Here to Drive Your Business Forward.
Leave your logistics challenges to us so you can focus on growing your business. Let us provide the reliable support your operations need.