Seeds from China popping up nationwide

(TULSA, Okla.) Unsolicited seeds are showing up in mailboxes across the country, including Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry said they have received numerous reports from Oklahomans stating they have received unsolicited seeds from foreign countries. They seeds have been arriving in packages stating the contents are jewelry. Know as “agriculture smuggling” officials said people who receive the seeds should not plant them. We’re told the seeds could seriously threaten U.S. agriculture and natural resources by being invasive, introducing diseases to local plants, or being harmful to livestock. Anyone who receives a package of unsolicited seeds is asked to put everything they received in a Ziplock bag, write their name and city on the bag, then email Morgan.vance@ag.ok.gov or Kenny.naylor@ag.ok.gov to let them know they have received a package of seeds. People can then drop the seeds of at a local extension office. It is recommended people call the extension office to make a drop-off appointment. For a list of extension offices, please visit this website https://extension.okstate.edu/county/index.html Seeds can also be mailed to: Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry C/O Agriculture Smuggling Seeds 2800 N. Lincoln Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73105 If the seeds have already been planted, officials tell people to dig them up, knock the extra soil off, double bag them and then mail them to the address above.