By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer

PHOTO COURTESY USDA
Four Worcester County residents have reported receiving unsolicited packages of seeds from China as of Monday, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

(Aug. 13, 2020) Residents of at least 22 states in the U.S., including Maryland, have received mysterious, unsolicited seeds allegedly mailed from China.

As of Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) received four reports of unsolicited seed packages from Worcester County residents, said K. Cecilia Sequeira, a public affairs specialist with the federal inspection agency.

Maryland State Plant Health Director Matthew Travis said his office received two reports from Ocean City residents, one report from a Berlin resident and one report from a resident of the Snow Hill area. All said the seeds came from China, he added.

The Department of Agriculture is working with other federal agencies and state departments of agriculture to investigate the seeds’ origins and variety.

On July 29, Osama El-Lissy of the Plant Protection program at the inspection agency said 14 different species of seeds had been identified through samples, including mustard, cabbage, morning glory, mint, sage, lavender, rosemary, hibiscus and roses.

Since then, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service identified some other species that have been mailed to residents throughout the U.S. as broccoli, kale, celery, coriander, cilantro, sunflower, basil and tomato.

The main concern is that the seeds may introduce damaging pests or diseases that could harm agriculture, the inspection agency’s website stated.

All 50 states have issued warnings about the unsolicited packages.

At this time, officials believe the packages are part of a “brushing scam” to boost sales with false customer reviews.

As of Monday, the federal inspection agency had received more than 9,000 emails from people across the country who reportedly were mailed unsolicited seeds, and the agency had collected 925 seed packages, said Sequeira.

It appears that recipients recently made purchases online, according to the federal inspection agency’s website.

Although there is no evidence of human health risks, the Department of Agriculture advises anyone who receives a package to wear gloves and limit touching the material.

Sequeira said not to plant the seeds, but to leave the packages as they arrived—unopened with the mailing label.

Maryland citizens who receive an unsolicited package of seeds are instructed to contact Travis via email at matthew.a.travis@usda.gov or call 410-288-5540 or Kimberly Rice, acting program manager of the Plant Industries and Pest Management of the Maryland Department of Agriculture, via email at kimberly.rice@maryland.gov or call 410-841-5920.

Reports can also be made to the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Plant Protection and Weed Management program at ppwm.mda@maryland.gov.

In addition, there are options to submit reports online to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service or the state department of agriculture.

Then, Maryland residents should mail the unsolicited packages to the following address for USDA APHIS PPQ: 2400 Broening Highway, Suite 102 Baltimore, Maryland 21224.

For more information, visit www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder-info/sa_by_date/sa-2020/sa-07/seeds-china.