- Author: IPM Program
- Contributor: Karen Giovannini
Author: UC Integrated Pest Management Program
Have you had unexpected seeds show up in the mail? Unknown seeds could be invasive plants, contain invasive insects, or have plant disease causing agents. Here's what the United States Department of Agriculture Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) has to say about it. APHIS Stakeholder Announcement July 28, 2020 (Language from their website)
USDA Investigates Packages of Unsolicited Seeds
USDA is aware that people across the country have received suspicious, unsolicited packages of seed that appear to be coming from China. USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is working closely with the Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection, other federal agencies, and State departments of agriculture to investigate the situation.
At this time, [USDA does not] have any evidence indicating this is something other than a “brushing scam” where people receive unsolicited items from a seller who then posts false customer reviews to boost sales. USDA is currently collecting seed packages from recipients and will test their contents and determine if they contain anything that could be of concern to U.S. agriculture or the environment.
USDA is committed to preventing the unlawful entry of prohibited seeds and protecting U.S. agriculture from invasive pests and noxious weeds. Visit the APHIS' website to learn more about USDA's efforts to stop agricultural smuggling and promote trade compliance.
What to do with the Seeds
Do NOT plant or dispose of these seeds!
Please hold onto the seeds and packaging, including the mailing label.
In Sonoma County
Anyone who receives an unsolicited package of seeds can drop the seeds and packaging off in the Drop Box at the Agriculture Department, 133 Aviation Blvd, Santa Rosa CA 95403 or contact the department:
- SonomaAg@Sonoma-County.org
- 707-565-2371
Other Counties
Contact your County Agriculture Commissioners office.
Best Practices: do not plant seeds from unknown origins
- Author: Penny Leff
The University of California Small Farm Program, UC Cooperative Extension and collaborating partners will host a Statewide Agritourism Summit for everyone involved in California agritourism on Wednesday April 8, 2015 at the Heidrick Agricultural History Center in Woodland.
“The public is excited about California agritourism. Many California agricultural producers host great opportunities for enjoyment and education for the public and are ready for visitors, but challenges persist in most regions,” said Holly George, leader of the UC Nature and Agricultural Tourism Workgroup and UC Cooperative Extension advisor in Plumas/Sierra Counties. “Groups working on agritourism are thriving in some locales and struggling in other areas. We hope this one-day Agritourism Summit will encourage and strengthen regional and cross-regional working relationships among agritourism operators, organizers, regulators, educators and general tourism promoters throughout California,” said George, one of the Summit organizers.
People who should attend include: Agritourism operators and associations, agritourism regulators, agricultural associations and educators, tourism, marketing and economic development professionals, county and state staff and elected officials, and anyone else involved in California agritourism.
This will be a participatory all-day session (8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) with lunch provided. Participants are invited to bring marketing and organizational information to display and share. The goals of the summit are to:
- Build awareness and understanding of successful local and regional networks that benefit agricultural producers and communities, and connect agritourism operators, the larger tourism community and county staff and officials
- Promote sharing of successful agritourism activities and marketing efforts
- Encourage and assist agritourism producers to collaborate with others in their region
- Expand the reach of regional efforts to market agritourism to the public statewide
- Generate a voice for agritourism at a legislative level
- Initiate plans for a statewide framework for agritourism communication and collaboration
This project is funded in part by the California Department of Food and Agriculture's Specialty Crop Block Grant program. Additional sponsors are Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (WSARE) for California, Sierra Nevada Conservancy, and California Rangeland Conservation Coalition.
Funding is available through these generous sponsors to assist with travel costs for a limited number of agricultural producers and agricultural educators who could not otherwise attend the Summit. For information about travel assistance, please contact Penny Leff, paleff@ucdavis.edu, 530-752-7779
Agenda and additional information
Registration fee: $20.00 pre-registration (until April 3, 2015) or $30.00 at the door.
