Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has announced a concerning situation involving unsolicited seed packages. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) was notified about a case in Frisco, Texas, where a resident's address was fraudulently used as the return address on boxes containing unidentified seeds. These packages were sent using Stamps.com to mask their origin, causing the recipient to receive numerous unwanted returns.

Commissioner Miller advised, "If you receive a package of seeds that you did not order, do not send it back to the listed return address. Instead, please report those packages to TDA immediately and hold onto them until we can pick them up." He warned that although the sender might appear to be from Texas, the actual source could be international, posing risks to health and agricultural biosecurity.

The affected Frisco resident initially returned 10 boxes of unknown seeds but continues to receive 5-10 packages daily. The TDA has collected several boxes for inspection and disposal. The identity of the sender remains unknown; however, similar incidents have been reported nationwide with origins traced back to China. Texans are urged to stay alert and report any unsolicited seed deliveries.

The TDA is collaborating with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for identification and testing of these seeds. All collected contents will be destroyed via steam sterilization at no cost to recipients. APHIS will work with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to prevent further shipments from these sources.

Recipients of unsolicited seed packages are instructed not to open them but keep them sealed in their original packaging and contact TDA at (800) TELL-TDA for guidance.