RICHMOND, Va. — If a package of mystery seeds arrives at your home, the state of Virginia has a message for you: Please do not plant them.
“The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) has been notified that several Virginia residents have received unsolicited packages containing seeds that appear to have originated from China,” Michael Wallace, a spokesperson for the Va. Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, said. “The types of seeds in the packages are unknown at this time and may be invasive plant species.”
The packages, according to the state were sent by mail and “may have Chinese writing on them.”
“Invasive species wreak havoc on the environment, displace or destroy native plants and insects and severely damage crops,” Wallace said. “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 state asked anyone who may have received a package of unsolicited seeds in the mail to call the Office of Plant Industry Services (OPIS) at 804-786-3515.