Arizona is among the states where residents have received unsolicited packages from China containing seeds.
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has been working with Customs and Border protections and other state departments to prevent the entry of unsolicited seeds from China to protect U.S. agriculture. USDA officials warn that the seeds can expose local flora and fauna to invasive pests.
Arizona residents have reported receiving packages with seeds, and the Arizona Department of Agriculture is telling people to neither plant nor discard the packets.
Instead, they should mail or drop off the packages at one of three Department of Agriculture locationsin the state.