Many of the photographs in the aid are credited to Vince Arellano and Laurie Smith. Thus, this pictorial index was created as an aid to assist inspectors with the identification of commodities not normally encountered in California. Common names, scientific names, and decriptions were compiled from a list of references . Authorities cited to the scientific names were verified, where possible, through the United States Department of Agriculture's GRIN database.
Descriptions are in the generic, as well as the pictures.
Please be aware that varieties vary throughout the world. We have included a picture of a mango from Thailand. It might not look exactly like a mango from the Philippines. The same goes for eggplants, peppers, papayas, etc. Origins, more apropriately common international origins, were compiled by personal interviews at California's international ports of entry.