More Mystery Seeds Showing up in Texas Mailboxes – What to Know

We are just barely five years removed from the chaos and confusion that was the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, in addition to monitoring our own health, a new threat was introduced. Or perhaps it was just a perceived threat but for folks in Lufkin, Longview, Beaumont, and Vidor who received those packages of mystery seeds in the mail back in 2020, the threat certainly looked to be very real.

Unsolicited seed packages have started to make a return to Texas mailboxes over the past few weeks. In fact, Texas has seen a rather large uptick in the unsolicited packages. Still, many residents are unsure what to do if they get one or more of these unwarranted and unwanted seeds delivered to their home mailbox.

Several Departments of Agriculture across the nation and the Gulf South in particular have noticed an uptick in inquiries from residents concerning the seed packages. In many cases, the packaging that contains the seeds is not labeled as seeds. Many of you who have reported receiving unsolicited packages say the parcel was marked "jewelry".

So far there have been no reports of sinister plant life of invasive species included in the packages of seeds that have returned to U.S. Mailboxes this spring. Of seed packages that were opened and inspected by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, the seeds were tomato seeds and onion seeds. Neither set of seeds tested positive for harmful compounds.

If you do receive unsolicited seeds from an unknown source over the next few days it is important that you take the following steps to ensure that proper precautions are being taken. No, there is no prevailing suggestion that the seeds will be harmful to you or your family but if they are planted and allowed to mature it is possible that you could be introducing an invasive species into Texas' delicate ecosystem.

If you receive unsolicited seeds in the mail, here is what the Texas Department of Agriculture would like you to do. 

Do NOT open the package.
Do NOT throw the seeds away.
Do NOT plant the seeds.
Keep the package sealed in its original packaging.
Contact the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) immediately at 800-825-5832 (or 800-TELL-TDA).

The main reason for the abundance of caution is that these seeds could be invasive or prove harmful to the Texas Agricultural System. The seeds might also be part of a scam. Either way the final outcome is not good for you nor is it good for Texas. So use an abundance of caution should you find packages of seeds in your mailbox.