Everything You Need to Know
About Sourcing With Us

FoodStreamOS is FoodStream Corporation — a wholesale Caribbean specialty food importer and distributor. We source FDA/FSVP-compliant products directly from Caribbean farmers and supply them to US restaurants, retailers, and food distributors. Learn more about us →

We carry six product categories: Seafood (conch, tilapia), Roots & Tubers (malanga, yuca, taro), Fruit Purees (mango, soursop, guava), Exotic Flours (cassava, plantain), Hot Sauces & Condiments, and Spices & Seasonings. Browse the full catalog with current pricing →

Yes. All FoodStreamOS products are sourced through an FDA-registered facility and comply with FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) requirements. We maintain complete FSVP documentation for every imported product line. Read our full compliance standards →

We operate a flexible made-to-order model — there is no fixed warehouse minimum. MOQ varies by product. For most products, you can start with smaller trial quantities to test market fit before committing to full volumes. Contact us for a custom quote →

Standard lead time is 2–4 weeks after your order is confirmed and payment is received. Because we source made-to-order rather than pulling from shelf inventory, product freshness is maximized. Cold-chain logistics are verified from origin to delivery. Expedited options may be available for time-sensitive orders — contact us to discuss.

We ship throughout the continental United States. All perishable products travel in a verified cold chain with temperature-controlled freight carriers. International and Alaska/Hawaii shipping is evaluated case-by-case — email us with your delivery location and product requirements.

Use the quote request form on our catalog page. Fill in your contact details, the products you are interested in, estimated volumes, and your delivery location. We typically respond within one business day with pricing, lead times, and availability. No commitment required to submit a quote request.

FSVP (Foreign Supplier Verification Program) is an FDA rule under FSMA that requires US importers to verify their foreign suppliers meet US food safety standards. Every imported food product entering the US must come from an FSVP-compliant supplier. FoodStreamOS handles all FSVP documentation end-to-end — so you receive product without compliance holds or documentation gaps. Read our full FSVP compliance explanation →

Yes. If you need a Caribbean product not currently listed in our catalog, we may be able to source it through our network of Caribbean farmer cooperatives and processors. We evaluate requests based on regulatory feasibility (FDA import requirements), supply chain reliability, and volume potential. Submit a custom sourcing request →

We accept bank transfer, ACH, and major credit cards. Payment terms are negotiated individually for established wholesale accounts. New orders typically require payment in advance or a deposit before production begins. Contact us to discuss payment arrangements for your business.

Yes. We offer sample quantities for qualified wholesale buyers evaluating new product lines. Sample pricing is available upon request. Use the quote request form to indicate which products you would like to sample and your business type (restaurant, retailer, distributor).

Once your order is confirmed and in production, our team provides regular status updates via email. You will receive a tracking notification when your order ships, including freight carrier and tracking reference. If you have questions about an active order, email us at foodstreamos@polsia.app with your order reference number.

Yes. All FoodStreamOS imported products carry country-of-origin labeling as required by US Customs and the USDA Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) Act. Products are labeled with their country of origin (Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad, etc.) at the point of packaging in the origin country. See our full compliance documentation →

Most specialty food products imported from Caribbean countries enter the US under preferential tariff schedules (CBTPA / CBERA), which significantly reduce or eliminate customs duties on qualifying goods. FoodStreamOS handles all customs classification, duty calculations, and tariff filings as part of our import service — no separate customs broker fee. Read our full import cost breakdown →

We offer tiered wholesale pricing that rewards larger orders. The exact discount schedule depends on product category and total order value. Most buyers see per-unit cost improvements of 10–20% at half-pallet quantities and 20–35% at full-pallet or container orders. Review the full wholesale pricing tiers → or request a custom quote for your volume.

Because we source made-to-order, products are at peak freshness when they arrive. Shelf life varies by product — frozen seafood typically has 12–18 months from production date; shelf-stable hot sauces and spices 18–24 months. All products carry a minimum 60-day shelf life at delivery. Read our storage and handling guide →

All perishable products (seafood, fresh tubers, fruit purees) travel in a verified cold chain from origin facility to your door. Products are blast-frozen or kept at 28–32°F during transit, monitored by temperature loggers throughout the journey. We partner with FDA-registered cold storage facilities at US ports of entry. See our cold chain verification standards →

Yes. We partner with regional food distributors, ethnic specialty retailers, and foodservice distributors across the US. Distributor accounts receive wholesale pricing, delivery scheduling, and product training support. Email us with your distribution territory and current customer base to discuss partnership terms.

The true cost of import includes product cost, freight, customs duties, cold chain storage, and FSVP compliance overhead. Our Import Cost Calculator lets you estimate the all-in cost per unit for any product at your target volume — including FOB origin, C&F, and CIF pricing scenarios. See our full cost guide for importers →

FOB stands for "Free On Board" — it means the seller covers delivery to the port of shipment (e.g., Port-au-Prince, Kingston). The buyer pays ocean freight, insurance, customs duties, and delivery from the US port. Our pricing is quoted FOB origin unless otherwise specified. Read our full pricing breakdown →

FOB (Free On Board): buyer pays freight from origin port onward. C&F (Cost and Freight): seller pays freight to the destination port, buyer pays insurance and duties. CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight): seller covers freight and insurance to destination, buyer handles duties and final delivery. FoodStreamOS quotes FOB origin pricing — contact us for C&F or CIF quotes on request. Use our Import Cost Calculator to compare pricing scenarios →

Plan for 6–9 months for full FSMA compliance from a standing start. Key steps: FDA food facility registration (weeks 1–2), FSVP importer enrollment and Qualified Individual designation (months 1–2), foreign supplier FSMA compliance documentation and PCQI audits (months 2–5), HACCP plan alignment and sanitation controls (months 4–7), CBP entry and prior notice submission readiness (months 6–9). FoodStreamOS already maintains complete FSVP documentation — we can supply copies and compliance records on request. See the full 6–9 month compliance timeline →

Frozen seafood (conch, tilapia, finfish): 0°F or below for long-term, 28–32°F during transit. Fresh tubers (malanga, yuca, taro): 50–55°F — not frozen, kept cool and dry. Fruit purees (mango, soursop, guava): 32–40°F. All perishables travel in a verified cold chain with temperature loggers throughout. Our products arrive at 28–32°F and are immediately transferred to your cold storage. See the full cold chain temperature guide →

Yes — if your product contains plant material (roots, tubers, flours, spices, dried herbs, hot sauces made from fresh peppers). APHIS (USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) requires a phytosanitary certificate issued by the exporting country for most plant-derived food imports. FoodStreamOS works with our origin-country facility partners to obtain phytosanitary certification before each shipment. Read the full APHIS and phytosanitary requirements guide →

Conch and other marine products primarily require FDA clearance, not APHIS — APHIS covers plant and animal health for agricultural products. However, if seafood is packed or processed alongside plant materials (e.g., conch in scotch bonnet pepper sauce), APHIS documentation may be required for the plant component. All FoodStreamOS seafood products are sourced from FDA-registered facilities with complete documentation. See the full Haitian seafood import requirements →

Under the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) and CBTPA, many Haitian food products enter the US at reduced or zero duty rates. Most specialty food products — hot sauces, fruit purees, tubers, flours — qualify under CBERA (Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act) with duty-free or significantly reduced tariff treatment. FoodStreamOS handles all customs classification and tariff filings — buyers receive landed cost with duties already calculated. See the full CBI/CBTPA duty breakdown →

Prior Notice is a mandatory FDA submission required before food arrives at a US port of entry — required no later than 4 hours before arrival for ocean freight, 2 hours for air freight. It must include the importer of record, country of origin, FDA food facility registration number, and product description. Failure to submit prior notice correctly can result in FDA refusal of the shipment at port. FoodStreamOS handles prior notice for all shipments as part of our import service. See the full Prior Notice requirements guide →

Hurricane season (June 1 – November 30) creates real risk for Caribbean food supply chains. Steps to protect your supply: maintain 3–4 weeks of safety stock for critical menu items, establish a backup supplier outside the hurricane belt (e.g., Dominican Republic or Trinidad processors), plan menu substitutions for peak hurricane months, and time large orders for the pre-season window (March–May). Read the full hurricane season supply planning guide →

For a typical Caribbean food import, you will need: a commercial invoice with HS tariff code classification, a Bill of Lading (BOL) or Air Waybill, a packing list, a certificate of origin (for CBI/CBTPA duty preference), an FSVP letter of authorization or importer designation, a phytosanitary certificate for plant products, an FDA prior notice submission confirmation, and a CBP entry (entry summary / 3461). FoodStreamOS manages all import documentation end-to-end — you receive a complete documentation package with each order. See the full import documentation checklist →