Connecticut authorities are alerting residents about unsolicited seed packages that have been reported arriving by mail. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) and the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) emphasize the importance of following U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidance to report and safely handle these seed shipments, which could pose environmental and agricultural risks.
Residents who receive unsolicited seeds should dispose of them according to USDA recommendations. The preferred option is to surrender the seeds and packaging to the USDA Plant Protection and Quarantine office at 97 Barnes Road Unit 200, Wallingford, CT 06492. The unopened seed packet, along with any packaging including the mailing label, should be placed in a mailing envelope. If packets are open, they should first be sealed in a zip-lock bag before being placed in an envelope. Residents are asked to include their contact information for follow-up by State or Federal agriculture officials.
Alternatively, if surrender is not possible, seeds can be disposed of by wrapping them securely with duct tape, sealing them in multiple zip-lock bags, covering them again with duct tape to prevent exposure to water and sun, and then discarding them in the trash.
In cases where seeds have already been planted or cannot be surrendered, residents are advised to email CAES at caes.stateentomologist@ct.gov with their contact information for further instructions.
The USDA warns that these seeds could carry diseases or insects harmful to crops. Imported seeds must comply with labeling and phytosanitary requirements and undergo inspection by USDA and customs at entry points. The agency remains committed to preventing prohibited seed entry and safeguarding U.S. agriculture from potential threats.
For more information on this issue, visit www.aphis.usda.gov.
