Minnesotans Mailed 'Mystery Seeds' Apparently From China

MINNESOTA — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is warning residents not to open or plant unsolicited packages of seeds that apparently come from China. State officials have received reports of Minnesotans getting mysterious seed packages recently.

Officials in other states including Louisiana, Utah, Virginia, and Washington, have reported similar incidents.

"We’re uncertain what these seeds may be and why people are receiving these unsolicited packages," said Denise Thiede, MDA’s Seed Unit Supervisor. "Until we know more, we encourage people to contact us because of the risk they may pose to Minnesota agriculture and our natural landscapes."

Minnesotans are asked to do the following if they have received unsolicited packages of seeds:

• Do not throw away the package or its contents
• Do not plant the seeds
• Contact Arrest the Pest line at 1-888-545-6684 or arrest.the.pest@state.mn.us and provide your name, contact information, and the date the package was received

The department will coordinate shipping the packages to MDA Seed Program.

State officials are working with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance Program on identification and destruction of the seeds.