Is China undertaking an agricultural war against the U.S. or is this whole sketchy seed business just one big scam?
Americans in every state have reported being sent unsolicited seeds in the mail that appear to be coming from China.
The USDA urges anyone who receives an unsolicited package of seeds to immediately contact their state's plant regulatory official or the plant health director of their state's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. https://t.co/xf2pFc8gm5
— ABC News (@ABC) July 29, 2020
The concern is that the seeds could be invasive species that “wreak havoc on the environment, displace or destroy native plants and insects and severely damage crops,” state agriculture officials in Virginia told CBS.
Residents who receive the mysterious seeds are being urged to report the packages to local officials and not plant them.
Did you receive seeds unsolicited? Find out how to report: https://t.co/ItduSpDxYE. We are working with our federal and state partners to investigate. Pls don’t plant seeds from unknown origins!
— USDA APHIS (@USDA_APHIS) July 28, 2020
While the USDA is investigating, at this time, the agency believes the mysterious seeds may just be a scam.
“At this time, we don’t have any evidence indicating this is something other than a “brushing scam” where people receive unsolicited items from a seller who then posts false customer reviews to boost sales,” a statement said. “USDA is currently collecting seed packages from recipients and will test their contents and determine if they contain anything that could be of concern to U.S. agriculture or the environment.”
Let’s hope so because some people planted them already.