SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's Department of Agriculture and Food said online retail giant Amazon has agreed to stop listing seeds from overseas sellers, which may alleviate a problem of mysterious seed packets being shipped to residents.
The policy change to only list U.S.-based seed sellers could help stop a problem that has been plaguing Utah and surrounding states for months now. FOX 13 first reported in July that residents in Utah and surrounding states have reported receiving mysterious packets of seeds in the mail. It's alarmed state agriculture officials because the seeds could be an invasive plant species or a noxious weed that could harm crops and the environment.
The American Seed Trade Association confirmed the policy shift in an online posting. It is expected that other online sellers will follow suit.
UDAF said if you receive a packet of seeds in the mail, do not plant them or throw them away. Instead, give them to state agriculture officials so they can be properly destroyed.
