OLYMPIA, Wash. — The USDA has given its final answer on those “mystery seeds” sent to to people across the country last summer.
After a detailed investigation, the Capital Press reports the agency concluded the seeds were likely part of an internet scam to help a seller boost its search results, and not an effort to harm US agriculture.
Last summer’s mysterious seed packages were labeled as though they were from China, Uzbekistan, the Solomon Islands, the United Arab Emirates, Kyrgyzstan and elsewhere.
The seed samples were found to be benign, including varieties like rosemary, cabbage, mustard and basil.
Global “brushing scams,” like the seed shipments last summer, generate fake sales to boost a seller’s legitimacy.