STANISLAUS COUNTY- The Sheriff has used a warning advising the public to beware of unsolicited seeds arriving in the mail that are post marked from China. They have not yet been identified.
“The US Department of Agriculture has recently received reports of people receiving seeds in the mail from China they did not order.
The seeds are sent in packages usually stating that the contents are jewelry. This is known as agricultural smuggling.
Unsolicited seeds could be invasive, introduce diseases to local plants, or be harmful to livestock.
Here’s what to do if you receive unsolicited seeds from another country:
•DO NOT plant them and if they are in sealed packaging (as in the photo below) don’t open the sealed package•
•Report it to USDA or contact Stanislaus County Department of Agriculture & Weights and Measures at 209-525-4730•
•Maintain the seeds and packaging until given instructions by Dept of Ag or USDA. These items may be needed as evidence•”
