WTIP learns more about mysterious seeds received by Minnesota residents

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) sent out a notice this week that Minnesota residents, like people in a number of other states, have been receiving unexpected packages appearing to come from abroad. The international packages appear to be coming from China.

There have been reports of these odd parcels arriving on the North Shore. MDA says it has heard similar reports from Louisiana, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.

Any Minnesotan receiving a package of seeds they did not order should not plant the seeds and should contact the MDA.

Minnesotans should do the following if they have received unsolicited packages of seeds:

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.

MDA officials will coordinate shipping the packaging and contents to the MDA Seed Program.

The MDA is working with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance Program on identification and destruction of the seeds.

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence spoke with Minnesota Department of Agriculture Senior Communications Director Allen Sommerfeld to learn more about this situation.

Rhonda Silence July 27, 2020