Posted by:
Dave the Atheist
(
)
Date: July 26, 2020 01:52PM
"Several Virginia residents say they received unsolicited packages of seeds that officials believe could be from China, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said Friday. They say they don't know what the seeds are or who sent them.
The seeds were sent in the mail and appear to have "Chinese writing" on them and could be an invasive species, the department said."
""Invasive species wreak havoc on the environment, displace or destroy native plants and insects and severely damage crops. Taking steps to prevent their introduction is the most effective method of reducing both the risk of invasive species infestations and the cost to control and mitigate those infestations," the department said in a statement.
If you receive a package with the seed, the Department of Agriculture is asking that people contact them at ReportAPest@vdacs.virginia.gov.
The department said people in Kansas have been getting the packages by mail. Some are labeled as jewelry and have Chinese writing on them.
They aren’t sure what type of seeds these are, but they’re asking people not to plant them.
Agriculture officials believe these seeds might be dangerous. They said they could be invasive species, could introduce diseases to local plants, or could be harmful to livestock.
People in other states across the country have also received similar packages, according to the department.
Lori Culley, who lives in Tooele, Utah, told Fox 13 that she found two small packages in her mailbox Tuesday that had Chinese writing on them.
“I opened them up and they were seeds,” Culley told the news station. “Obviously they’re not jewelry!”
In Utah, at least 40 people had received mysterious seeds, Fox 13 reported. It is unclear how many people in Virginia and Washington were mailed a package of seeds, but officials said “several.”
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/mystery-seeds-possibly-from-china-are-being-mailed-to-virginia-residents/2371404/