Administration
Handles the administrative functions of the Department and reports to the Office of the Commissioner. Its responsibilities range from personnel management, employee training, and fiscal operations, to computer technology, facilities management, telecommunications, purchasing, mail room, and print shop operations. Oversight is provided by the Director’s Office which also manages additional program areas such as Agency Clerk, Contract Management, Department Leases, Publications and Forms Control, and Division Information Technical Support.
Agricultural Environmental Services
Responsibilities include statewide mosquito control program coordination, pesticide registration, pesticide use regulation, structural pest control regulation, and feed, seed, and fertilizer registration and inspection. The Division of Agricultural Environmental Services assists and protects consumers by decreasing the number of pesticide, pest control, fertilizer, feed and seed licensees and products that are unlawful, unsafe or unethical. The Division is responsible for enforcing the provisions of all or part of Chapters 388, 482, 487, 570, 576, 578, and 580, Florida Statutes.
Agricultural Law Enforcement
Responsible for conducting inspections of highway shipments of agricultural, horticultural, aquacultural and livestock commodities, as well as investigations of consumer fraud, enforcement of criminal and civil violations occurring within State Forests or any crimes involving agriculture.
Agricultural Water Policy
Actively involved in the development of Best Management Practices (BMPs), addressing both water quality and water conservation on a site specific, regional, and watershed basis.
Animal Industry
Responsible for enforcing animal health regulations in Florida and protecting the state from animal pests and diseases, which could have major economic and public health consequences.
Aquaculture
Regulates aquaculture facilities and shellfish processing plants, is responsible for opening/closing of shellfish harvesting waters to protect human health, ensures the continued productivity of oyster reefs through a restoration program and issues leases of submerged state lands for aquaculture.
Consumer Services
The Division of Consumer Services is the state’s clearinghouse for consumer complaints, information, and protection. The Division regulates various businesses such as; Business Opportunities, Motor Vehicle Repair Shops, Charitable Organizations, Florida Do Not Call Program, Dance Studios, Pawnbrokers, Health Studios, Sellers of Travel, Intrastate Movers, Sweepstakes/Game Promotions, Telemarketing, and works with the Florida Attorney General to implement the Florida Lemon law.
Dairy
Insures that dairy products purchased by Florida consumers are wholesome, produced under sanitary conditions, and correctly labeled. The division regulates the production, transporting, processing, distribution, and labeling of milk and milk products.
Food Safety
Responsible for assuring the public of a safe, wholesome and properly represented food supply through permitting and inspection of food establishments, inspection of food products, and performance of specialized laboratory analyses on a variety of food products sold or produced in the State. The Division monitors food from farm gate through processing and distribution to the retail point of purchase.
Forestry
Responsible for managing over one million acres of state forest resources for future generations and for protecting the state of Florida and our citizens, through detection and suppression, from the dangers of wildland fire. Additionally, the division is actively involved in wildfire prevention and providing assistance for private forest landowners.
Fruit and Vegetables
Administers rules that regulate standards, grades and marketing orders for various fruit and vegetable commodities to include citrus, limes, avocados, peanuts and tomatoes.
Licensing
Responsible for protecting the public from unethical business practices on the part of persons providing private security, private investigative and recovery services to the public through licensure and regulation of those industries pursuant to Chapter 493, Florida Statutes.
In addition, the Division is responsible for the issuance of Concealed Weapon or Firearm Licenses in accordance with Section 790.06, Florida Statutes.
Marketing and Development
Develops strategies to facilitate the buying, selling and marketing of Florida agricultural products. The division administers the Florida Agricultural Promotional Campaign (FAPC), also known as "Fresh from Florida," that assists the state’s agricultural producers in expanding markets, and operates 13 wholesale farmers’ markets that support agricultural commerce.
Office of Agricultural Emergency Preparedness
Provides the Department with professional expertise and leadership in statewide homeland security issues involving agricultural and food systems. It is responsible for analysis and evaluation of threats to animal and plant agriculture and to food production, processing, storage, and transportation systems.
Office of Inspector General
Protects and promotes public integrity and accountability within the Department through audits that detect fraud, waste and abuse and the investigation of criminal and administrative violations.
Office of the Commissioner
Comprises the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Chief of Staff, three Deputy Commissioners and one Assistant Deputy Commissioner overseeing the divisions and offices that make up the department. The office also includes Cabinet Affairs to handle cabinet related issues; Federal-State Relations acts as liaison with congress, other federal agencies and other state agriculture departments; Legislative Affairs handles state legislative issues; Communications responds to media and public information requests; and the General Counsel directs the activities of the department’s legal staff.
Plant Industry
Works to detect, intercept and control plant and honey bee pests that threaten Florida's native and commercially grown plants and agricultural resources.
Standards
Protects consumers from unfair and unsafe business practices across a wide range of products, including gasoline, brake fluid, antifreeze, liquefied petroleum gas, amusement rides and weighing and measuring devices.
