NEW ORLEANS — Those mystery seeds that people in Louisiana and all the other 49 states have been receiving originated in China and were shipped through several other countries, according to the Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain.
His best advice to people who get them in the mail is to not open them.
Strain said the biggest concern with the seeds - and some mysterious vials of liquid that have been also showing up - is an invasive species of insects, virus or bacteria.
Strain said his office isn't certain, but they suspect that the unsolicited seeds may be what's known as 'brushing' or an attempt to boost a company's online ratings by sending out more product.
"A considerable amount of money has been spent," Strain told Eyewitness News' Paul Murphy.
Strain estimated it cost more than $1 million to do the shipping. He said he suspects the products were shipped some time ago and they got held up and then "all of a sudden a majority have hit the market."