The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services supports and promotes Florida agriculture, protects the environment, safeguards consumers, and ensures the safety and wholesomeness of foods.  Among other programs and activities, the department

• protects Florida's livestock, honey bees, and crop plants from pests and diseases;
• manages over a million acres of state forest land for multiple uses, including timber, wildlife habitat, and recreation;
• acts as the state's clearinghouse for consumer concerns, whose call center analysts answer questions, provide information, and help resolve complaints; and
• tests for toxins, allergens, chemical contaminants, pesticide residues, food additives, and fraudulent formulations in food samples.

The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services accomplishes its mission through four major programs.

• Agricultural Economic Development Program works to strengthen Florida's agriculture to meet the needs of the world's growing population through six divisions (Animal Industry, Aquaculture, Food, Nutrition and Wellness, Fruit and Vegetables, Marketing and Development, and Plant Industry).
• Consumer Protection Program protects consumers and their property, as well as resources upon which they depend, from unlawful, unethical, and unsafe business practices through its two divisions (Agricultural Environmental Services and Consumer Services).
• Forest and Resource Protection Program, via the Florida Forest Service, manages over 1 million acres of state forest resources for future generations and protects the state from the dangers of wildland fire.The division is actively involved in wildfire prevention and providing assistance for private forest landowners.
• Food Safety and Quality Program is 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 analysis on a variety of food products sold or produced in the state (Division of Food Safety).

The department also houses the Division of Licensing, which administers Florida's concealed weapon licensing program and oversees Florida's private investigative, private security, and recovery services industries.
Also contained within the department's administrative budget category are three significant functions-the Offices of Agricultural Water Policy, Agricultural Law Enforcement, and Energy.

Hurricane Michael Recovery. The agricultural impacts of Hurricane Michael, as of January 2019, are estimated at nearly $1.5 billion in total losses. The forestry industry, in particular, was the hardest hit with an estimated loss of $1.29 billion. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, the department provided urban search and rescue support, while forestry saw teams opened over 600 miles of roads throughout the impacted area. The department also provided assistance to private landowners through site visits to assist with salvage, debris cleanup, and reforestation efforts.  Although there are also federal recovery efforts, Hurricane Michael recovery efforts at the state level are focused on reducing the wildfire threat, reforestation, forest pest and invasive species prevention, and urban and community reforestation.
Medical Marijuana Edibles. The 2019 Legislature enacted Ch. 2019-1, Laws of Florida, which establishes provisions for the sale of food processed with medical marijuana.  These provisions require any medical marijuana treatment center (MMTC) producing edibles to first receive a permit with the department. The department has initiated the rulemaking process to establish requirements for MMTCs electing to pursue the production of edibles.

Other Reports
Local and Organic Food Production, Florida Senate, Interim Project Report 2012-202, September 2011.
Impact of the Overproduction of Peanuts, Florida Senate, Interim Project Report 2011-101, October 2010.
Impact of Deepwater Horizon Oil Leak on Aquaculture, Florida Senate, Interim Project Report 2011-102, October 2010.
Potential Creation of Bio-Fuel from Equine Bedding Waste, Florida Senate, Interim Project Report 2011-103, October 2010.
The Auditor General reports on department operations are available on its website.
The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Office of Inspector General reports are available on its website.
Websites of Interest
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Federal Trade Commission
Performance Information
Performance measures and standards for the department may be found in its Long Range Program Plan.

Chapter 570 and s. 20.14, Florida Statutes.

Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 1-800-HELP-FLA (1-800-435-7352)
Website