Do NOT Plant Random Seeds Being Sent to Minnesotans in the Mail

Another one to check off the crazy 2020 bingo card: Minnesotans are now receiving unsolicited packages of seeds in the mail.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture posted about this on Facebook stating:

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has been receiving reports of residents receiving unsolicited packages of seeds appearing to come from China. Officials in other states, including Louisiana, Utah, Virginia, and Washington, have reported similar situations. Any Minnesotan receiving a package of seeds they did not order should not plant the seeds and contact the MDA.

Denise Thiede, MDA’s Seed Unit Supervisor, also issued a statement saying:

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

If you receive random seeds in the mail DO NOT PLANT THEM. Instead, take these steps:

• 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 MDA is working with the US Dept. of Ag Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance Program to identify these mystery seeds, and properly dispose of them.

Just when you think 2020 can't get any more strange, our newest problem is random unsolicited seeds from across the world. I can't with this year anymore. The last thing we need is a potentially invasive species being sent here.