Post by heirloomfan on Jul 28, 2020 10:19:08 GMT -5
Some of you maybe are aware that people are reporting that they are receiving unsolicited seeds in the mail. Most of these seeds come in small boxes that can say China Post on them, may be coming from other countries as well and are labeled as being jewelry and other contents. The USDA and your state dept of agriculture want people to know that if you receive these seeds, contact your local state department of agriculture immediately.
They caution people not to handle these seeds and definitely do not plant them because they could be an invasive species, be harmful to animals or humans or contain insect pests inside.
There are several states that have reported people receiving these seeds including Washingon State, Virginia, Utah, Kansas, Kentucky and Ohio with more reports from other states daily.
If you receive these seeds, you are asked not to discard them in the trash, because they likely can sprout at the landfills as well. The authorities want to get as many of these packages turned over to them so they can begin testing to see what they are, but the assumption is that they are not native to the US and can cause many problems as an invasive species. Some of these same seeds may also be sold through sites like Ebay and Etsy so people are cautioned about buying seeds from sites that aren't well known commercial seed companies.
I am in Colorado, and this was a release we got today through our Master Gardener coordinator. You can google your state name and department of agriculture to get the contact information should you receive one of these packages:
Colorado Dept. Of Agriculture has released the following statement regarding seeds that are arriving anonymously to citizens in Colorado and other states.
AG Department Asking for Reports of Unsolicited Seeds Received via Mail
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 2020
Contact: Mary Peck, 720-428-0441, mary.peck@state.co.us
Broomfield, Colo. - The Colorado Department of Agriculture has received numerous reports from across the state of people receiving unsolicited packages of seeds in the mail that appear to have originated from China and other countries and labeled as containing jewelry or other items. Unsolicited seeds could be invasive, introduce diseases to local plants, or be harmful to livestock.
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is working closely with the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection and State departments of agriculture to prevent the unlawful entry of prohibited seeds and protect U.S. agriculture from invasive pests and noxious weeds.
Anyone who receives an unsolicited package of seeds should immediately contact the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Plant Industry Division at cda_nursery@state.co.us or at 303-548-5333 or the APHIS State plant health director.
Please hold onto the seeds and packaging in its original package safely, including the mailing label, until someone from the Colorado Department of Agriculture or APHIS contacts you with further instructions. Do not plant seeds from unknown origins, and do not put the seeds in the trash, which could ultimately end up in the landfill and then sprout.
Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
###
The Colorado Department of Agriculture exists to support the state's agriculture industry and serve the people of Colorado through regulation, advocacy and education. Our mission is to strengthen and advance Colorado agriculture, promote a safe and high-quality food supply, protect consumers, and foster responsible stewardship of the environment and natural resources.
colorado.gov/ag
wtop.com/virginia/2020/07/virginians-asked-not-to-plant-unsolicited-seeds-mailed-from-china/
They caution people not to handle these seeds and definitely do not plant them because they could be an invasive species, be harmful to animals or humans or contain insect pests inside.
There are several states that have reported people receiving these seeds including Washingon State, Virginia, Utah, Kansas, Kentucky and Ohio with more reports from other states daily.
If you receive these seeds, you are asked not to discard them in the trash, because they likely can sprout at the landfills as well. The authorities want to get as many of these packages turned over to them so they can begin testing to see what they are, but the assumption is that they are not native to the US and can cause many problems as an invasive species. Some of these same seeds may also be sold through sites like Ebay and Etsy so people are cautioned about buying seeds from sites that aren't well known commercial seed companies.
I am in Colorado, and this was a release we got today through our Master Gardener coordinator. You can google your state name and department of agriculture to get the contact information should you receive one of these packages:
Colorado Dept. Of Agriculture has released the following statement regarding seeds that are arriving anonymously to citizens in Colorado and other states.
AG Department Asking for Reports of Unsolicited Seeds Received via Mail
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 2020
Contact: Mary Peck, 720-428-0441, mary.peck@state.co.us
Broomfield, Colo. - The Colorado Department of Agriculture has received numerous reports from across the state of people receiving unsolicited packages of seeds in the mail that appear to have originated from China and other countries and labeled as containing jewelry or other items. Unsolicited seeds could be invasive, introduce diseases to local plants, or be harmful to livestock.
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is working closely with the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection and State departments of agriculture to prevent the unlawful entry of prohibited seeds and protect U.S. agriculture from invasive pests and noxious weeds.
Anyone who receives an unsolicited package of seeds should immediately contact the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Plant Industry Division at cda_nursery@state.co.us or at 303-548-5333 or the APHIS State plant health director.
Please hold onto the seeds and packaging in its original package safely, including the mailing label, until someone from the Colorado Department of Agriculture or APHIS contacts you with further instructions. Do not plant seeds from unknown origins, and do not put the seeds in the trash, which could ultimately end up in the landfill and then sprout.
Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
###
The Colorado Department of Agriculture exists to support the state's agriculture industry and serve the people of Colorado through regulation, advocacy and education. Our mission is to strengthen and advance Colorado agriculture, promote a safe and high-quality food supply, protect consumers, and foster responsible stewardship of the environment and natural resources.
colorado.gov/ag
wtop.com/virginia/2020/07/virginians-asked-not-to-plant-unsolicited-seeds-mailed-from-china/
