‘Mysterious Seeds’ in the mail

Good Morning,

Many of you have seen the news about people receiving ‘mysterious seeds’ in the mail. As I am getting more calls and questions about this I wanted to pass along guidance from VDACS on what to do if you receive any unsolicited seeds that you did not order:

If you are a Virginia Resident and are reporting Mystery Seed Packages, please see below for further information.

If you still have the seed packets and shipping/packaging materials, please do the following:

• Do NOT open the seed packets;
• Do NOT plant the seed packets; 
• Do NOT throw the seeds in the trash, flush them down the drain, or expose them to the environment in any way; and
• Put all packaging materials and seeds into a Ziploc bag.
• Ship all seed and packaging materials to the following address:

            Chickeilla Carter
            USDA-APHIS-PPQ
            5657 South Laburnum Avenue
            Richmond, VA 23231

Report unsolicited seeds here: https://unsolicited-seed-packet-reporting-opis-vdacs.hub.arcgis.com/ or you can email ReportAPest@vdacs.virginia.gov 

For more information you can read VDACS press release here: https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/press-releases-200724-seeds.shtml 

Thanks and please let me know if you have any questions

Morgan Paulette
Extension Agent, ANR
VCE – Pulaski County
143 Third St. NW, Suite 3
Pulaski, VA 24301
paulette@vt.edu
(540) 980-7761