Nurseries

Nursery production is the 4th largest commodity in Monterey County. The local climate creates ideal conditions for raising a large variety of nursery stock including bedding and potted plants, cut flowers, poinsettias, vegetable transplants, woody ornamentals, propagative materials, turf and orchids. The Agricultural Commissioner, in collaboration with CDFA, ensures that nursery growers comply with federal, state, and county laws, regulations and ordinances.

• General information about CDFA’s Nursery Program
• CDFA Nursery Inspection Procedures Manual

Nursery Licensing

All wholesale and retail nurseries in Monterey County must be licensed through the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).

• Access a list of state licensed nurseries
• Apply for a nursery license
• Renew your nursery license
• Fee exemption for nursery license

Nursery Inspections

The Agriculture Commissioner inspects licensed wholesale nurseries annually. Retail nurseries are held to the same standards as wholesale nurseries, but are not inspected annually.

The Agricultural Commissioner, via its Pest and Disease Prevention program, in cooperation with CDFA, performs state mandated nursery regulatory and inspection activities designed to prevent the introduction and spread of agricultural pests through nursery stock and protect agriculture and the consumer against economic losses resulting from the sale of inferior, defective, or pest-infested nursery stock.

CDFA currently provides registration and certification services for the following: avocado, citrus, deciduous fruit and nut trees, seed garlic, grapevine, and strawberry nursery stock and nematode certification for nursery stock produced for farm planting. The Agricultural Commissioner does not provide these services, but we communicate and cooperate with CDFA where these services overlap with meeting general nursery regulatory standards.

Seeds

The Agricultural Commissioner, in cooperation with CDFA, carries out most inspection and enforcement activities under the California Seed Law (Section 52288, California Food and Agricultural Code) to verify the accuracy and accessibility of seed label statements as to variety and type, purity, and germination of seed. Enforcement of the California Seed Law regarding marketing and labeling helps ensure that consumers receive the desired product and do not incur costs of time, money and resources resulting from poor seed quality.

• Firms authorized to sell seed in California
• Apply to sell seed
• Access seed inspection forms