Reason for Investigation Penal Code 928 Every grand jury may investigate and report upon the needs of all county

Environmental Protection a. Pest Exclusion—Preventing harmful insects, weeds, plant diseases and other pests from entering the County. They also certify the export of agricultural products to meet the import requirements of importing countries. b. Pest Detection—Continually survey for any harmful infestations. Recently, these have included the Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter (a $424,000 program) and Exotic New Castle (a $647,000 project). c. Pest Management—Educate the public in identification of pests thereby reducing their population and spread. 10 d. Pest Eradication—Eliminate infestations of new pests such as the Red Imported Fire Ant. e. Pesticide Use Enforcement—Oversees the application and storage of pesticides.

Consumer Protection a. Fruit & Vegetable Quality Control—Ensures the quality, labeling and packaging standards for fruits and vegetables. b. Egg Enforcement—Ensures the quality and labeling standards are met pertaining to eggs. c. Nursery Regulation—Assures consumers the nursery stock is properly labeled, reasonably free of common pests and in viable condition. Recently, efforts have addressed the effects of Sudden Oak Death. d. Seed Regulation and Seed Services—Cooperates with the California Crop Improvement Association as to the certification of seed. Assures compliance with laws and regulations as to identify, purity and viability of agricultural and vegetable seed.

Special Services a. Apiary Services—Certifies colony strength. b. Crop Statistics—Compiles and produces the County’s annual agricultural statistics. As the Sealer of Weights and Measures, the Department provides consumer protection in the form of:

Weighmaster—Certifies the weighed, measured or counted quantity of a commodity.

Metrology Lab—Tests and calibrates 1,200 wheel load weighers for the California Highway Patrol and is currently reaching out to adjoining states to provide this service. All of these duties are performed with a staff of 27 individuals under the auspices of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the Business and Professions Code, and the Department of Pesticide Regulations under the Environment Protection Agency, with both criminal and civil regulatory authority. CONCLUSIONS The Department performs a large number of services that are unknown to the public.