State officials in Georgia are warning residents to be on the lookout for packages containing mysterious seeds sent in the mail.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture said it has received several reports of people receiving these packages in recent weeks. Georgians are urged not to open the package or plant them.
The department said it’s unknown what type of seeds are in the packages. But it believes they are possibly from China or may be an invasive species. Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black says:
“At this time, we are not sure what the seeds are and therefore are urging everyone to be exceedingly vigilant. If you have received one of these packages in the mail, please use extreme caution by not touching the contents and securing the package in a plastic bag.”
The department shared these photos of what Georgians should look for along with the Chinese writing.
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Anyone who received unsolicited seeds in the mail is asked to contact the GDA Seed Lab at 229-386-3145 or email SeedLab@agr.georgia.gov
Mysterious seeds are not just showing up in Georgia. The New York Times reports that officials in at least 27 states are urging residents to report any unsolicited packages of seeds that appear to have been sent from China, warning that they might be invasive or otherwise harmful.
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The U.S. Agriculture Department’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has been notified about the seed packages, said Cecilia Sequeira, a spokeswoman for the service. She urged anyone who received the seeds in the mail to contact state plant regulatory officials or A.P.H.I.S. officials in their state.
