The Oregon Department of Agriculture said its warning to state residents who may have received such packages in recent days mirrors that of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
State and federal agencies are working closely to collect the seeds and test them to determine if they are a concern to agriculture or the environment.
The packages have been arriving, often with a label indicating they contain jewelry.
Anyone who receives such packages should contact the Oregon Department of Agriculture and follow these steps, according to the agency:
Washington agriculture officials issued a similar warning, cautioning the seeds, which appear similar to citrus seeds, may be infected or diseased.
In Oregon, anyone who has received such a package should send it to the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Plant Protection and Conservation, 635 Capitol Street NE, Suite 100, Salem, Oregon 97301. Anyone who already has planted seeds should contact the department’s plant programs direct, Helmuth Rogg, at 503-986-4662 or hrogg@oda.state.or.us
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