CHINESE SEED PACKAGES

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is warning Floridians about unsolicited packages of seeds coming in the mail. The Department has received over 600 reports from Florida residents, including some in Escambia County, who said they received seed packages. The type of seeds are unknown. The United States Department of Agriculture says the seeds might introduce dangerous pathogens, diseases, or invasive species. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said anyone receiving these suspicious seed packets should not open them, should not plant them, should limit contact with them, and should report them immediately to both the Florida Department of Agriculture and the USDA.