State ag department wants mystery seeds sent to them

Minnesota
Photo credit Dreamstime

George Washington is quoted saying “bad seed is robbery of the worst kind.”

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture wants people to take that message to heart.

Officials say Minnesota residents have recently been receiving packages of seeds in the mail, unsolicited, with the source of the seeds appearing to be China.

The Ag Department’s message: Don’t plant those seeds. And don’t throw them away.

Minnesotans have received unsolicited packages of seeds appearing to come from China. If you've gotten unsolicited seeds:-Don't throw them away.-Don't plant the seeds.-Contact Arrest the Pest at 1-888-545-6684 or arrest.the.pest@state.mn.usMore: https://t.co/CmeMHWUNjS#MNAg pic.twitter.com/yLIAMaZLyn

— MN Agriculture Dept (@MNagriculture) July 27, 2020

Instead, put them back in the mail, but instead of China, send them to the agency’s seed program.

“We’re uncertain what these seeds may be and why people are receiving these unsolicited packages,” said Denise Thiede, Minnesota Agriculture 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.”

Administrators of the state Seed Unit and the US Department of Agriculture’s Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance Program will then work on to identifying and destroying the seeds.

Officials says identical packages of seeds were also sent to people in Louisiana, Utah, Virginia, and Washington state.