Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is reminding Texans to be extremely cautious about mysterious, unsolicited seed packages bearing Chinese return addresses that continue to show up in mailboxes across the state.
Officials indicate these seeds may threaten agriculture and ecosystems and are treating the situation as an ongoing biosecurity concern.
Unsolicited packages of unidentified seeds began arriving in 2020 and continue to be sent to people across the state. The Texas Department of Agriculture is urging Texans who receive unsolicited seeds not to open the package, not to plant the seeds, and not to throw them into the trash, where they’ll end up in a landfill.Since February 2025, the TDA said it has collected 1,101 seed packages sent to more than 100 locations across the state. The TDA said the seeds could pose a serious threat to the state’s agricultural and environmental safety.Although these deliveries may seem harmless at first glance, authorities insist they could conceal a much greater threat: the potential introduction of invasive species that could impact crops, gardens, natural ecosystems, and even the food supply chain.
Federal agencies are now involved in the investigation. Tests are being conducted to determine which kinds of plants will grow from these “free” seeds.
The Texas Department of Agriculture is partnering with federal agencies to gather, test and safely destroy the unsolicited packages. Officials stress that stopping the flow of these shipments is critical to protecting farms, ranches, gardens and natural habitats across the state.”Whether it’s part of an ongoing scam or something more sinister, we are determined to protect Texans,” Miller said. “Unsolicited seeds coming into our country are a risk to American agriculture, our environment, and public safety. Texas isn’t going to take chances when it comes to protecting our people and our food supply.”
Texas officials first learned of the issue last February after a resident in Clute received an unmarked package from China containing unidentified seeds and a liquid substance. Since that time, similar reports have surfaced nationwide, including in Ohio, New Mexico, and Alabama.
The Texas Department of Agriculture has collected 1,101 packs of unsolicited seeds at 109 locations across the state since February 2025, according to a press release. Miller warned that introducing an invasive species could pose a “real risk” to Texas families and agriculture.“This might seem like a small problem, but this is serious business,” Miller said in the release. “We need everyone to report these packages when they arrive so the contents may be gathered and disposed of properly.”Texas officials most recently found an unsolicited seed package on December 29, 2025. If residents receive a package, they should not open it; instead, keep it sealed and contact the Texas Department of Agriculture at 1-800-TELL-TDA.
Back in 2020, 22 states reported receiving mysterious seeds from China. Seeds were tested at that time, and the list includes common herbs and flowers.
So far, the department has identified vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, kale, tomato and celery; herbs like basil, coriander, rosemary, mint, sage and lavender; flowers like rose and sunflower; as well as mustard and ivyleaf morning glory seeds, a spokesperson for USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) told The Counter. The public “subset of samples” will be updated soon on a department website.
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