Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions About Ordering from Nicaragua
🛒 ORDERING & PRODUCTS
Q: What's the minimum order quantity?
A: Sample orders start at just 1 lb per product. For bulk orders, minimums are:
- Air freight: 5 lb minimum
- Sea freight: 25 lb minimum for best pricing
Q: Can I mix different products in one shipment?
A: Absolutely! Mixed orders are common and help optimize shipping costs. You can combine any of our 8 products in a single shipment.
Q: How fresh are your products?
A: All products are processed and packaged within 30 days of shipping. We don't keep old inventory sitting around - you get fresh, high-quality products every time.
Q: Do you have organic certification?
A: While we don't currently hold formal organic certification, all our partner farms use traditional organic practices without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. We can provide documentation of farming methods and can pursue organic certification if you have large volume requirements.
Q: Can I visit your farms in Nicaragua?
A: Yes! We welcome serious buyers to visit our partner farms. Contact us to arrange farm tours - it's a great way to see our quality standards and meet the farming families firsthand.
💰 PRICING & PAYMENT
Q: Are there any hidden fees in your pricing?
A: No hidden fees ever. Our product pages show complete pricing breakdowns. The only additional cost is the 18% US import duty, which is clearly stated on every product page.
Q: Why is there an 18% duty on Nicaragua products?
A: Due to recent US trade policy changes in August 2025, Nicaragua exports face an additional 18% import duty. This is collected by US Customs, not us. We're actively working with trade associations to resolve this situation.
Q: What payment methods do you accept?
A: We accept:
- Wire transfers (preferred for bulk orders)
- PayPal (sample orders and smaller purchases)
- Credit cards through our secure payment system
- Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, USDC for international buyers)
Q: When do I need to pay?
A:
- Sample orders: Payment required before shipping
- First-time bulk orders: 50% deposit, 50% before shipping
- Established customers: Net 30 terms available after 3+ successful orders
Q: Can I get volume discounts?
A: Yes! Bulk pricing is available:
- 25-99 lbs: 10-20% discount
- 100-499 lbs: 15-25% discount
- 500+ lbs: 20-35% discount
- Container loads: Custom pricing available
🚢 SHIPPING & DELIVERY
Q: How long does shipping actually take?
A: Realistic timelines:
- Air freight: 11-16 business days total (5-8 days processing + 5-8 days delivery)
- Sea freight: 34-38 business days total (10 days processing + 24-28 days transit)
Q: Do you ship to all US states?
A: Yes, we deliver to all 50 states including Alaska and Hawaii. Shipping costs are the same regardless of your location in the US.
Q: What if my shipment gets stuck in customs?
A: We handle all the paperwork and work directly with customs officials to resolve any issues. In 5+ years, we've had less than 1% of shipments experience significant customs delays.
Q: Can I track my order?
A: Yes! You'll receive tracking information and regular updates throughout the entire process from our facility in Nicaragua to your door in the USA.
Q: What if products are damaged during shipping?
A: All shipments are fully insured. We document packaging with photos and will immediately replace any products damaged during transit at no cost to you.
🏢 BUSINESS & LOGISTICS
Q: Are you a legitimate business?
A: Yes, we're a registered business operating legally in both Nicaragua and the USA. We have:
- Nicaragua export licenses for agricultural products
- US business registration for import operations
- Established banking relationships in both countries
- 5+ years experience in international agricultural trade
Q: How do I know you're not a scam?
A: Great question! Here's how you can verify our legitimacy:
- Start with a small sample order to test our service
- Video calls available to meet our team and see our operations
- References available from existing customers (with their permission)
- Transparent pricing with complete cost breakdowns
- Professional documentation for all exports
Q: Do you have insurance and proper documentation?
A: Yes, we maintain:
- Export insurance covering all international shipments
- Business liability coverage in both countries
- Proper export licenses from Nicaragua government
- FDA facility registration for food imports to USA
Q: What happens if you go out of business?
A: We've been operating successfully for 5+ years with consistent growth. However, we understand this concern:
- Established supplier relationships that could continue independently
- Multiple farm partnerships reducing single-source risk
- US business entity providing additional legal protections
- Start small - prove our reliability before large commitments
🌱 PRODUCT QUALITY & SOURCING
Q: How do I know the quality is consistent?
A: Quality consistency comes from:
- Direct relationships with the same farms year after year
- Standardized processing procedures for every batch
- Quality testing before every shipment
- Detailed documentation with every order
- Same harvest regions and traditional methods
Q: Can you provide lab testing results?
A: Yes, we can arrange third-party lab testing for:
- Heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury)
- Microbiological safety (E.coli, Salmonella)
- Pesticide residues (should be zero with our organic practices)
- Nutritional analysis (protein, vitamins, minerals)
- Mycotoxins for applicable products
Q: What if the products don't meet my specifications?
A: We work with you to ensure satisfaction:
- Detailed specs provided before ordering
- Sample testing to verify quality before bulk orders
- Custom processing available for specific requirements
- Quality guarantee - we'll work to resolve any issues
- Honest communication about what we can and cannot provide
Q: Are your farms really "single-estate" or is that marketing?
A: Our farms are genuinely small, family-owned operations. "Single-estate" means:
- Specific farm locations that we can document and visit
- Direct relationships with individual farming families
- Traceability to exact growing locations and harvest dates
- Consistent terroir from the same volcanic highland regions
- Not blended from multiple unknown sources
🌍 INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Q: Is it legal to import these products from Nicaragua?
A: Yes, all our products are legal agricultural exports that don't require special permits:
- Standard food imports under FDA regulations
- Proper export documentation from Nicaragua government
- No CITES restrictions or special licensing required
- Common products imported by many US businesses
Q: What about US-Nicaragua political relations?
A: While political tensions exist, agricultural trade continues:
- Agricultural products exempted from most restrictions
- Private business trade remains legal and active
- 18% additional duty is the main impact (already factored into our pricing)
- We monitor developments and will adjust as needed
Q: Can you help with FDA compliance?
A: We provide the documentation you need:
- Product specifications meeting FDA requirements
- Certificate of analysis for quality verification
- Proper labeling information for your products
- Connect you with consultants for complex regulatory questions
🤝 WORKING RELATIONSHIP
Q: Do you work with small businesses or just large companies?
A: We work with everyone! Our customers include:
- Home-based businesses starting with sample orders
- Small manufacturers ordering 25-100 lbs at a time
- Mid-size companies with regular monthly orders
- Large operations ordering container loads
- Everyone gets the same quality and attention
Q: Can you provide exclusive supply agreements?
A: For substantial volume commitments, we can discuss:
- Preferred pricing for regular large orders
- Priority allocation during peak harvest seasons
- Custom processing specifications for your needs
- Advance contracts for harvest planning
- Regional exclusivity may be possible for very large volumes
Q: What kind of support do you provide after the sale?
A: Ongoing support includes:
- Technical assistance with processing and applications
- Quality troubleshooting if you have any issues
- Supply planning for seasonal availability
- Market updates on pricing and harvest conditions
- New product development based on your needs
❓ STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
Can't find your answer here?
Contact us directly - we're here to help:
📱 WhatsApp: +505 5707-7624 (Best for quick questions)
📧 Email: info@nicasale.com
📞 Phone: Available during business hours (8 AM - 5 PM CST)
Prefer to start small?
Order a 1 lb sample of any product to experience our quality and service firsthand. Many of our best customers started with a single sample order.
Want to see our operation?
Schedule a video call to meet our team and see our processing facilities. We're proud of our operation and happy to show you exactly how we ensure quality.
🚀 READY TO GET STARTED?
Most new customers follow this path:
- Browse our products and read the detailed descriptions
- Order 1-2 samples to test quality
- Contact us with questions and feedback
- Place a bulk order with confidence
- Establish ongoing relationship for regular supply
NICASALE - Premium Nicaragua Natural Products
We believe in honest business, transparent pricing, and exceptional quality. Start with samples, ask lots of questions, and let us prove our value to your business.