Texas – Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced that the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) has collected a total of 311 unsolicited seed packages from 64 locations across the state. This includes the first instance of a live plant being mailed to a Texas resident without request. In light of this, Miller is urging Texans to remain cautious when encountering any unexpected packages, particularly those containing unfamiliar contents.
“Texans need to be aware of the dangers of opening unsolicited packages left at their doorstep,” Commissioner Miller stated. “We must stay vigilant and not assume that every package contains harmless plant material. Although many of these seeds are not listed as noxious plants by the federal government, they still pose a significant national biosecurity threat that should not be overlooked.”
In response to the situation, TDA will continue to collect and forward all seed packages, unidentified liquids, and plant materials to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) or the Texas Tech horticulture department for identification, testing, and disposal, at no cost to the recipients. TDA’s partners at APHIS will work with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to track and halt similar shipments in the future.
This effort is part of an ongoing national issue that began in 2020, as unsolicited seed deliveries started arriving across the country. USDA officials have identified these shipments as potentially linked to “brushing scams,” a deceptive practice where retailers send inexpensive items to unsuspecting individuals, write fake reviews, and fraudulently inflate product ratings. While the connection between these unsolicited seed deliveries and brushing scams is not yet clear, the pattern is similar.
“We are still trying to understand how these seeds are passing through customs,” Commissioner Miller added. “We have consistently reported and delivered these packages to APHIS, which has worked to communicate with customs officials. While this may seem harmless, it raises a security concern in our nation’s delivery system that must be addressed.”
Texans who receive any unsolicited packages containing seeds, liquids, or live plants are advised not to open them. Instead, they should keep the contents sealed in the original packaging and contact the TDA toll-free at (800) TELL-TDA for further instructions.
