Agricultural Economic Development

The Agricultural Economic Development Program of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services works to strengthen Florida's agriculture to meet the needs of the world's growing population. The department seeks to accomplish this goal through a variety of inspection, disease management, and marketing activities.

The program comprises six divisions.

• Animal Industry is 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. This division conducts active animal disease prevention, surveillance, control programs, and disease diagnostics. Veterinarians and animal health inspectors throughout the state work with producers, animal owners, and private veterinarians in monitoring and enhancing the health and welfare of Florida's animals. Sub-units of this division are: the Bureau of Animal Disease Control and the Bureau of Diagnostic Laboratory (the Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory).
  
  
• Aquaculture is responsible for the development and regulation of aquaculture in the state. The division's responsibilities include regulatory authority over multiple aquaculture species, including ornamental fish, alligators, food fish, aquatic plants, and shellfish. The division is also responsible for shellfish processing plant sanitary inspections, shellfish harvesting water classification, and serving as staff to the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund for submerged state-owned land aquaculture leases. Sub-units within the division are: Aquaculture Certification and BMP Compliance; Aquaculture Submerged Land Leasing; Processing Plant Compliance and Inspection; and Shellfish Harvesting Area Classification.
  
  

• Food, Nutrition, and Wellness administers the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program, Afterschool Snack Program, Summer Food Service Program, Seamless Summer Option Program, Farm to School Program, and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program for the state of Florida. In addition, the division is responsible for administering the USDA Foods Program for the National School Lunch Program, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, The Emergency Food Assistance Program, and the WIC Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program. Program responsibilities include advocating changes in policy that ensure the most nutritious meals are provided to children, and that all children in Florida are educated on the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle. Sub-units of this division are: the Bureau of Child Nutrition Programs; the Bureau of Compliance and Program Integrity; the Bureau of Nutrition Education and Outreach; the Bureau of Supplemental Food Programs; and Financial Operations.
  
  

• Fruit and Vegetables inspects and certifies all fresh shipments of vegetables, fruit, and nuts, as well as provides support, in connection with regulations issued under federal and state marketing orders and rules. This division ensures licenses for all citrus dealers, registrants and agents of licensed fruit dealers, packing houses, and processing plants are collected and maintained annually. This division also inspects for good agricultural practices to ensure compliance with food safety regulations as well as fresh produce not covered by regulation on a request basis in support of outside entities, export laws, and commercial requirements. In addition to assuring compliance, this division also maintains testing equipment, facilitates at processing plants and packing houses, and conducts methods for maturity and load evaluation procedures in support of the inspection and food safety guidelines. The sub-units of this division are: the Bureau of Inspection and the Bureau of Support Services.
  
  

• Marketing and Development is responsible for providing professional marketing services in all phases of the marketing system that will bring fair returns to Florida producers, conserve Florida resources, and supply customers with quality agricultural products at reasonable prices. The division maintains and operates farmers markets located throughout the state; plans and develops sales promotions programs; and provides information on the use and handling of Florida products. Sub-units of this division are: Industry Relations; Trade Development; the Bureau of State Farmers Markets; the Bureau of Strategic Development; the Bureau of Seafood and Agriculture; and the Bureau of Education and Communication.
  
  

• Plant Industry is the regulatory plant protection unit of the department, working to detect, intercept, and control plant and honeybee pests that threaten Florida's native plant resources, agricultural, and horticultural industries. This division concentrates its efforts on the exclusion of exotic pests and the prevention of their spread through the regulation of plant and honeybee movement and through extensive survey programs designed for the early detection of pests to allow for the application of cost-effective eradication or control strategies. Sub-units of this division are: the Bureau of Plant and Apiary Inspection, the Bureau of Entomology, Nematology, and Plant Pathology (and Botany); the Bureau of Methods Development and Biological Control; the Bureau of Pest Eradication and Control; the Bureau of Citrus Budwood Registration; and the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey Program.