Shipping Food from San Jose to Houston via Ocean Freight

Moisture-sensitive Dry food demands A sealed inner barrier such as poly bags inside sturdy outer cartons. Most shippers recommend adding silica gel and using moisture-warning labels on all ambient food shipments, especially when moving through humid or coastal routes.

You Can ship dry food and bottled drinks together if Each item is properly cushioned and beverages are placed at the bottom of the carton. Our logistics team recommends using cell partitions for beverages so that any leak does not damage surrounding dry food.

Most international shipments of Ambient food will require Commercial invoices listing full product descriptions, HS codes, and values. Depending on the destination and type of snacks, you could be asked for manufacturer declarations and certificates of origin, especially for beverages.

For Packaged food with medium fragility and mixed dry food and bottled drinks, We recommend comprehensive cargo cover that includes damage from moisture and breakage. Be sure to accurately declare values of your snacks and note your packing methods, as insurers may assess packaging quality when processing claims.

Most Ambient food and standard beverages Can be shipped in non-refrigerated transport as long as you keep them within labeled storage temperatures. Our team recommends checking manufacturer guidelines on temperature limits, especially for oil-based dry food, and planning transit to minimize exposure to very hot or very cold environments.

Packaged food shipments must comply with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, including prior notice requirements. Importers must ensure that products meet the U.S. standards for safety and labeling, and may require documentation such as a Certificate of Free Sale from Costa Rica.

Essential documentation includes the bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing list, and any necessary health certificates or permits required by the FDA. Additional customs declarations must be submitted for clearance at both ports.

SAMMIE offers real-time tracking where AI monitors every container and flags delays, reroutes, and transshipment issues before you even ask.

SAMMIE provides Document Intelligence and a Smart Document Hub that auto-tags and organizes bills of lading, customs forms, and invoices, parses and sorts every invoice, BOL, and customs document, and makes it easy for your team to find the right file quickly.

SAMMIE provides proactive alerts by using real-time AI to detect issues in ports, lanes, and vessel activity and flagging exceptions before they escalate.