The Georgia Department of Agriculture said that residents have received unsolicited packages from China that contain seeds from an unknown source in recent weeks.  The US Department of Agriculture released information that people in every state in the country has received these mysterious packages of seeds.  

People are urged not to open unsolicited packages from China and not to plant the seeds if the package is opened.  The packages have labels that say they are sent by the China Post and will have a return address of a location in China.  The contents may say that there is jewelry or other items inside but in reality, it contains seeds from an unknown species of plant. 

“At this time, we are not sure what the seeds are and therefore are urging everyone to be exceedingly vigilant,” Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black says. “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.”

Government officials are worried that the seeds may be an invasive plant species.  An invasive species can cause great harm to a local environment.  They can ruin crops and they can even displace or destroy native plants and insects.  The best way to prevent this from happening is to make sure that the seeds of these invasive species never get planted.

 Anyone who has received unsolicited seeds in the mail from China or any other country is encouraged to contact the GDA Seed Lab at 229-386-3145 or email SeedLab@agr.georgia.gov

— Staff Reports