• 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.

• Strengthen Florida agriculture to meet the needs of the world’s growing population
• Safeguard the well-being of Florida residents and visitors
• Manage natural resources to support Florida’s quality of life
• Prevent and respond to pests, disease and disaster
• Exceed expectations in service

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 businesses from unfair and unsafe business practices across a wide range of market sectors while administering various state and federal regulatory programs concerning environmental and consumer protection issues through its two divisions (Agricultural Environmental Services and Consumer Services).
• Forest and Resource Protection Program, via the Florida Forest Service, protects and manages the forest resources of Florida ensuring that they will be available for future generations. The Forest Service manages over 1 million acres of state forests for multiple public uses, including timber, recreation and wildlife habitat, and offers technical information and grant programs to landowners to help them improve their forestland. Through wildfire prevention and suppression, the Forest Service works to protect homeowners from the threat of damage in a natural, fire-dependent environment.
• 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 and evaluation of food products, and performance of specialized laboratory analysis on a variety of food products sold or produced in the state. The division administers and enforces food, poultry, and egg laws; supports the enforcement of other food safety laws; and investigates consumer complaints related to food (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.

Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The 2022 Florida Legislature enacted Ch. 2022-191, Laws of Florida, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, creating new requirements for subdividing the state's 56 Soil and Water Conservation Districts, providing qualification requirements to serve as a district supervisor, and providing for the automatic dissolution of soil and water conservation districts under certain conditions.

The legislation directs that after the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has determined that operation of a proposed district is administratively practicable and feasible and that the district boundaries are wholly located in one county, the district be subdivided into five numbered subdivisions that match, as practicable, the boundaries of either the five county commission districts or five school board districts within the county. When neither the county commission nor the school board is subdivided into five districts, or when the district is comprised of multiple counties, the department shall subdivide the district into five numbered subdivisions as nearly equal in area as practicable to ensure geographical representation within that soil and water conservation district’s governing body.

Additionally, the law provides that if the governing body of a district fails to meet as required, the district shall be automatically dissolved as of January 1 of the year immediately following the year in which the governing body failed to meet. All assets and liabilities of the district shall be transferred to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Other Reports

2021 State Agriculture Overview Florida, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
2020 Florida Agricultural Facts, U.S. Department of Agriculture. 
2019-2020 Annual Report, FDACS Division of Fruit and Vegetables.

A complete list of Auditor General reports is 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
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services A to Z Resource Guide 

Performance Information

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

Website